Published 11:44 IST, July 10th 2019
WATCH THIS: Dutee Chand's spectacular sprint which won her the 100m gold at the World University games in Napoli, Italy
National record holder Dutee Chand became the first Indian woman track and field athlete to clinch a gold medal in the World Universiade after she won the 100m dash event
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National record holder Dutee Chand became first Indian woman track and field athlete to clinch a gold medal in World Universie after she won 100m dash event. 23-year-old Dutee clocked 11.32 seconds to win gold as she led race from start to finish.
Running at lane number 4, Dutee was first one out of eight athletes to blast off starting blocks and she me most of it to fend of a late challenge from Del Ponte (11.33) of Switzerland. Lisa KwaYie of Germany took bronze in 11.39 seconds in race run past midnight Indian time on Tuesday.
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After winning race, Dutee posted a picture of her medal and said that she will come back stronger. She furr ded: "With years of hardwork and your blessings, I have yet again broken record by winning Gold in 100m dash in 11.32 seconds at World University Games, Napoli. In pictures (picture of all three medal winners), are winners too, with a heart of Gold from Germany and Sweden.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dutee qualified for final with a time of 11.41 seconds in semifinal, which h me her first Indian sprinter to make it to final of World Universie. On Monday, she h vanced to semifinals from heats with a time of 11.58 seconds. She has a season best of 11.26 seconds in 100m, recorded in Doha Asian Championships in April. She could t reach semifinals in previous edition of World University Games in Taipei City in 2017, where Sanjivani Jhav h won a silver in women's 10000m race. She is yet to qualify for World Championships to be held in Doha in September-October.
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President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated winner on her feat and said that this is a moment of immense pride for our country. President urged her to keep up effort, and look to greater glory at Olympics. Dutee replied to President's tweet, saying: "Thank you, sir. I will try my best to bring Olympics Gold Medal home. Once again, many thanks for your blessings."
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju also applauded Dutee's efforts. Here is video of her run that gave India this proud moment:
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Odisha runner, whose national record stands at 11.24 seconds, thus became first Indian to win a 100m gold in a global event. She has w become only second Indian sprinter to win a gold in a global event after Hima Das, who clinched top spot in 400m in World Junior Athletics Championships last year. Dutee, who h a silver each in 100m and 200m in 2018 Asian Games, is also only second Indian track and field athlete to win a gold in World Universie.
11:12 IST, July 10th 2019