Sprinter Dutee Chand becomes first Indian sportsperson to publicly come out
The sprinter revealed she is in a relationship with a woman from her hometown
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Olympic sprinter Dutee Chand has become the first Indian sportsperson to publicly come out.
The Indian sprinter – who is the fastest woman in India – competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and last year, she won two silver medals at the Asian Games, the BBC reported.
But following the Indian Supreme Court’s historic decision to decriminalise gay sex last year, the 23-year-old athlete decided to publicly acknowledge her sexuality as well as her partner of five years.
While speaking to reporters from Hyderabad, she said: “I am having a relationship with a 19-year-oild woman from my village [Chaka Gopalpur] for the past five years.
“I have found someone who is my soulmate. I have always believed that everyone should have the freedom to love.
“There is no greater emotion than love and it should not be denied.”