Dutee Chand confident of making second Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand, who represented India in women’s 100m at Rio 2016, is backing herself to book a Tokyo 2020 berth.

Dutee Chand can qualify for Tokyo by either achieving the Olympic entry standard time in her events before the qualification window ends on June 29 or through her world rankings.

In the women's 100m - Dutee Chand’s pet event - the entry standard time is set at 11.15 seconds - 0.07 faster than the Indian sprinter’s personal best of 11.22 seconds. Dutee has two events remaining to meet the mark.

"I will try my best to touch the 11.15 seconds standard during the Indian Grand Prix 4 on June 21 and the National Inter-State Championships (June 25-29),” Dutee Chand said during a virtual press conference.

“If not, I am expecting qualification on the basis of rankings,” Dutee added.

Dutee Chand’s current standing of 43 in the 100m in the World Athletics’ Road to Tokyo list - a live tracker of the qualification situation - puts her in good stead to qualify even if she falls short of meeting the entry standard time.

A total of 56 athletes will qualify for the women’s 100m sprint event at the Tokyo Olympics. Thirty three have already qualified by the timing route. 

Although 69 athletes have already met the 11.15 seconds mark, not all will make it to Tokyo. There is a maximum cap of three runners from each country per event.

After spots are distributed among eligible athletes who have met the entry standard time, the remaining slots will be filled up by athletes based on their world rankings in the respective events.

Dutee Chand only needs to stay in the top 56 of the list when the June 29 qualification window ends to ensure a spot at Tokyo.

Dutee Chand is also in the running for a spot in women’s 200m at Tokyo. She’s placed in 44th position in the Road to Tokyo list for the event courtesy her world ranking of 50 in the discipline.

To qualify for the 200m through entry standard timing, Dutee Chand will have to meet 22.80 seconds - 0.20 faster than her personal best of 23:00 seconds

Currently training at the national camp at NIS Patiala, Dutee Chand wants to make her presence felt in Tokyo.

"My aim in Tokyo is to run below 11.10 seconds and qualify for the final round. The Olympics is the biggest event, there will be a lot of athletes who run around 11 seconds and below that," the two-time Asian Games silver medallist said.

No Indian has progressed to a 100m final at the Olympics till date.

Although Dutee Chand’s preparation for the big-ticket event has taken a hit due to the pandemic, she is leaving no stone unturned to make up for lost time.

“I train between 6 and 10 AM, rest in the afternoon and then train again from 6-8 PM. 

"I started speed training in February, running 60m, 80m and then 100m. Even a 100m run during training is repeated six times. My coach told me my stamina has improved, so I can improve my timing,” an optimistic Dutee Chand signed off.