Bhubaneswar, May 24: Failing to qualify for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics by 0.04 seconds has come as a blessing in disguise for ace sprinter Dutee Dutee.

While the failure has come as a disappointment for the Odisha athlete, she is not letting it get her down. Instead, the woman with an iron will is taking it in her stride and training hard for upcoming events.

Dutee clocked 11.30 seconds in the Indian Grand Prix meet in Delhi on May 15. The qualifying mark for the world championships is 11.26 seconds.

"I ran a good race and it was painful to know that I missed it by a whisker. But I am sure to give my best in the upcoming qualifying events," said Dutee.

She has now set her eyes on next month's Federation Cup and the Asian Athletics Championship that will be held here in July. She is confident of clinching a spot at the world championship that will be held in London this August.

Dutee is coming into some sort of form, having clinched a bronze and two silver medals in the first three legs of the Asian Grand Prix series last month.

Last year, during the Federation Cup, the Odisha girl missed the Olympic mark by 0.01 seconds. Although she eventually qualified, she failed to return with a medal.

"I was really upset and for two months I could not concentrate on anything. Then everyone, including my family members and friends, made me understand. I began training again from last November," she said.

"I realised after the failure in the Olympic Games that one needs extreme hard work to survive. We also need to train in accordance with international events. Most of the events are held during the night there and we are not acquainted with that. Better tracks and equipment of international standards are also required for Indian athletes," she said.

The 21-year-old athlete, who is training at the GMC Balayogi Athletics track in Hyderabad, is putting in around eight hours of practice every day.

Her coach Nagapuri Ramesh is her biggest support. "He has been encouraging me every moment. I get the best timings when I'm challenged and he does exactly the same," said Dutee.

Endurance and timing are the two things that she is focusing on now. "My coach makes it a point to make the training sessions enjoyable. He brings a lot of variety into the sessions and this makes an athlete focused," she said.

Dutee is also excited to run in front of her home crowd during the Asian Athletics Championship. "It is going to be a big event and I want to feel the thrill of the people of my state cheering for me. I will never let them down," she said.