KOCHI: Serendipity brought PU Chitra and Dutee Chand together for the first time. The year was 2013 and the place was Etawah in Uttar Pradesh. The two athletes were gifted nano cars by the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for their brilliant performance in that edition of the School Nationals. Dutee dazzled in the sprint events while Chitra made her case in the middle and long-distance. The two came together for the first time in front of shutterbugs, flaunting their brand new cars.
The two never became thick friends, but maintained a casual acquaintanceship. Whenever they came across in competitions later, they just greeted with a smile or a nod, as if acknowledging each other’s talent.
Four years later, the duo are once again in the news together for varying reasons. Chitra, despite becoming an Asian champion, is gnawing on her nails, awaiting the mercy of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to compete in the London World Championship, while Dutee is busy filling her backpack for London.
The Odisha athlete is elated, as she has got an invitation from IAAF on the account of her better ranking despite not meeting the qualification rank. Tale of two fate, maybe.
Despite the High Court order and an indelicate directive from the Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel to the AFI to honour the court, there is scant chance for the 22-year-old Kerala athlete to make it to London. “I am unsure of participating in London,” Chitra (in pic) told Express.
“It all depends on the AFI. Whether they will honestly try to put me through.”
The AFI secretary CK Valson said they have wrote to the IAAF, asking to accept her entry. But even he is unsure what lies ahead. “We have formally written to IAAF to consider PU Chitra’s entry as an Indian participation in women’s 1500m race. It is now up to IAAF to accept the request or not,” he said.
With the career of an athlete hanging in balance and the danger of contempt of court dangling overhead, the AFI is definitely in a tight spot.
On the other hand Dutee is elated to have made it to the squad. “Though the news came late, she is ready to participate. She will travel to London on June 31,” said N Ramesh, Dutee’s coach.
shan@newindianexpress.com