Revision as of 09:35, 22 November 2020

Family

Sister's blackmailing forced Dutee to come out

SUJIT.BISOYI, May 22, 2019: The Times of India

Odia sprinter Dutee Chand, who has revealed her same-sex relationship, said on Tuesday she was forced to do it as her elder sister was blackmailing her for a sum of Rs 25 lakh.

“As I have been in a relationship with a girl of our village for the last three years, my elder sister (Saraswati) was continuously threatening to expose our relationship in the media whenever I failed to give her whatever she demanded. She was threatening that I won’t be able to concentrate on sports once my relationship get exposed,” said Dutee, addressing a news conference.

The 23-year old athlete also alleged that her elder sister had once beaten her up which she had reported to the police. Though the sports fraternity and gender rights activists have hailed Dutee’s coming out as a gay, the Asian Games medalist has been facing the ire of her family. Dutee’s mother Akhuji has objected to her daughter’s relationship.

Saraswati, also a former athlete and now working with Odisha Police, had alleged that Dutee was being misguided by some persons who have been trying to siphon off her money. Asked about her mother’s objection to her relationship, Dutee said her mother must have been influenced by someone to make such statements. “My mother is alleging that I am not supporting my family financially, which is not true. I am aware about my duty towards my parents and family. I have been extending all help, including financial, to my parents,” Dutee said.

The sprinter, who is preparing for World Championship and Tokyo Olympics, said she has not done anything wrong by having a relationship with a girl. She said her father and other siblings have no objection to her relationship. The sprinter also requested the media not to spread anything which may adversely impact her career or socially harm her partner.

Responding to Dutee’s fresh allegations, Saraswati said it was not true. She said Dutee is being “blackmailed and pressurized” by some people who want her money.

Year-Wise, statistics

2018

Asiad

Biswajyoti Brahma, HAPPY AFTER ENDURING PAIN FOR LONG: DUTEE, August 27, 2018: The Times of India

Dutee Chand (women’s 100m)
From: August 27, 2018: The Times of India

It was a sort of redemption for Dutee Chand, who had to undergo “mental agony” following her tryst with hyperandrogenism four years back. The sprinter had to face a lot of hardship and was even dropped from the Indian squad in 2014 due to hyperandrogenism policy of the world athletics body (IAAF). She was later made ineligible before being reinstated following a Court of Arbitration order (CAS).

“Today I feel like a mother who had to bear the pain for nine months but forgets everything once she sees the new-born,” Dutee said after the race. “I am happy to win this medal after enduring pain for long,” she added.

She said she had worked hard for the event in the run up to the event, but could have claimed the gold after the tight fight. “People usually train for four hours a day but I worked for six hours. But my inexperience at competing at international events cost me the gold. The girl who won the top place had experience of several international competitions,” shew said.

Dutee said she was disappointed finishing third in the semifinal and was apprehensive about winning a medal.