Bhubaneswar: Greetings and congratulatory messages are pouring in for Dutee Chand, the Odia sprinter who bagged silver in the women's 100-metre at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta on Sunday.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced a cash prize of Rs 1.5 crore for Dutee in recognition of her grit, determination and hard work. The state also announced to set up an athletics academy to promote athletics.
Congratulating Dutee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Seems like a great run for our runners in the Asian Games 2018. The phenomenally talented Dutee Chand wins silver in the Women's 100 m event. Well Done!"
Naveen tweeted: "You have made the nation proud and Odisha could not have been prouder. Best Wishes."
Congratulating her and announcing the cash award, Naveen said: "It is a matter of pride that an athlete from Odisha has brought laurel to the country in this event after 20 years. In Asian Games 1998, Odia athlete Rachita Panda Mistri had won bronze medal."
The chief minister's office, in a release, said: "At present, the fastest men and women in the country are from Odisha. The state has a special focus on athletics, considering the performances of its athletes in recent time and the huge potential among the talented youths."
The CMO release further said: "Odisha has planned a high performance athletics academy (first of its kind at the state level), which is expected to be launched shortly."
The release also mentioned how the state government had organised the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships in 2017 in partnership with the International Association of Athletics Federation and the Athletics Federation of India to encourage athletics.
Governor Ganeshi Lal, Union sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan were among others who greeted Dutee.
"Splendid performances by India's daughters in athletics today. Heartiest Congratulations to Dutee Chand for bagging silver in the women's 100m dash. The medal is even more special as this is the first medal in 100m race by an Indian female since 1986," tweeted Pradhan.
Dutee humbly accepted the greetings, and in her tweet, thanked all.
"The encouragement from the Odisha government will help me to go ahead. Our government is giving encouragement and cooperating with the athletes," she tweeted.
However, she had a wish. "I don't have a plot or house in Bhubaneswar. I will be happy if the government provides me either a plot and a house," she said in her reaction to the assembled reporters.
With greetings pouring in for Dutee, her mother, Akhaji Chand, wanted more from her daughter.
"I want her to bring gold for India in the Olympic Games. Since the Asian Games have begun, I have been offering diya (earthen lamp) before Lord Jagannath and Maa Tarani to pray for her success."
Dutee's elder sister, Saraswati Chand, a renowned athlete of Odisha Police, also wanted more from her sister. "She has enough potential to create another record. I hope, she would certainly get another medal in the 200-metre event," Sarswati said.
The 200-metre event will be held on Tuesday. She said residents of her native village, Gopalpur, in Jajpur was elated with happiness for her achievement.
