Dutee gears up to train abroad with eyes set on 2020 Olympics

Mumbai: With focus trained on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Asian Games double medalist sprinter Dutee Chand is gearing up to train overseas.

"Basically, I always look to improve on my personal bests. There are no better fighters than me in India. And moreover there are just a handful of events that go on in the country Senior Federation Cup, Senior Nationals and the state-meet.

"So, working for just these three competitions, and given that theres a lack of good fighters, the timings are not coming (along)," said Dutee, who won two medals at the recent Asian Games.

"Now with the state government declaring that it would help by funding for the preparations of the Tokyo Olympics, I will head out of the country and participate in bigger competitions to get a better timing. Because my body's equipped for that," explained the 22-year-old sprinter from Odisha.

She was speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of an event where Glanbia launched a new nutrition product.

According to Dutee, the Indian athletes clock around 11.6-11.7s and training with them won't help her.

"In 100 metres, if there's someone running in front of you, it acts as an extra motivation to go past that athlete.

In India, there are athletes who are clocking around 11.6-11.7s. Hence, running with them won't ever help me achieve a timing around the 11s mark. "I'll head out of the country and train for the Tokyo Olympics. Once I train with sprinters outside the country, they'll guide me on my mistakes and where I should improve."