From practising barefoot along a riverbank to travelling in general train compartments and sleeping in tents during competitions, her early years were shaped by hardship.
Before the medals, national records and international recognition, Dutee Chand ’s journey began with a simple promise: win the school sports championship and her education would be taken care of.
“But despite the lack of facilities, I continued to compete and perform.” hard work still matters. Chance to study, reason to run Growing up in a financially struggling family in Odisha, even basic school supplies were hard to come by. Then her headmaster made her an offer: win the annual school championship, and the school would fund her education for the year. “My school headmaster noticed my circumstances and offered me an incentive… That was the spark that got me running,” she recalls. She took the challenge to her mother, who urged her on.
Even after moving to national-level competitions, Dutee’s journey stayed far from the comforts athletes get today. Dutee believes the sporting landscape has changed since she began, with young athletes today getting better infrastructure, training centres and financial backing from government and corporate sponsors.
In 2006, she went to Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar for a sports hostel interview, passed the selection, and moved in — marking the start of her professional training.
“This will change our family’s poverty, and your younger sisters will finally be able to study properly,” her mother told her — words that stayed with Chand and sharpened her focus. “The situation is different now. But better opportunities can only take an athlete so far: “If you want a career in sports, the opportunities are there. But you have to put in hard work. If you work hard from your heart, success will follow. A mother’s dream and the road to Asian Games glory Dutee credits her mother above all for keeping her going. She once asked her, “Mummy, what will I get by playing like this? Her mother’s answer gave her a larger purpose: perform well, make the country proud, and she could earn cash rewards, a government job, and change the family’s fortunes. Even after I started competing at the national level, the struggles continued. Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.
Today, young athletes don’t face the extreme struggles we did,” she says. Today, she says, her family’s circumstances have changed and her sisters are pursuing their education. Unlike athletes today, who travel by flight and stay in hotels, I travelled in general train compartments and I spent nights sleeping in tents set up near the venue Looking for trusted parenting advice?