Universiade 2019: Dutee Chand wins historic 100m gold in Naples

Dutee Chand of India celebrates her victory after the Women's 100m Final at the 30th Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy, July 9, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS)


Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has created history by winning the gold medal in women’s 100-metre sprint at the 2019 Summer University Games in Naples, Italy as she became the first Indian to achieve the feat. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took to Twitter to congratulate Dutee.

“Congratulations Dutee Chand for winning the 100m sprint at the Universiade, the World University Games, in Naples. This is India’s first such gold and a moment of immense pride for our country. Please keep up the effort, and look to greater glory at the Olympics,” read a tweet on the President’s official Twitter handle.

“Exceptional achievement of an exceptional athlete! Congratulations Dutee Chand for winning a hard earned and well deserved Gold in the Women’s 100 m finals. You make India proud!” Modi tweeted.

Congratulating the 23-year-old Indian speedster, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted: “I’ve been passionately following since my childhood but it never came (sic). Finally, for the first time, a gold for India! Congratulations Dutee Chand for winning the 100m sprint at the Universiade, the World University Games, in Naples.”

It took 11.32 seconds for Dutee to complete the 100-metre sprint and bag the first yellow ever for India at the Summer Universiade. No Indian had qualified for the 100-metre final in the history of the University Games before this.

Notably, Chand also holds the 100m national record with 11.24 seconds.