OdishaPlus Bureau
India’s fastest sprinter and student of KIIT Deemed to be University, Dutee Chand was felicitated by Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) on 16th July 2019. Felicitating Dutee, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS said, she has become the pride of the nation, as she brought laurels to India by winning a gold medal in the 100-meter race at 30th Summer Universiade 2019 in Napoli, Italy. She is the first ever Indian woman to bag gold medal in 100-meter race in a World Athletic meet. She clocked 11.32 seconds to achieve this landmark. During the felicitating ceremony, Dr. Samanta declared that an athletic track in KIIT & KISS will be named after her. ‘Dutee Chand Athletic Track’ will be inaugurated soon. Dutee will also lead KIIT Athletic Academy, which will be established in future. These will be the best gift from KIIT & KISS to Dutee, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Dutee thanked Dr. Samanta and KIIT & KISS and said, KIIT and Dr. Samanta have proved lucky for me. “What I am today, it is only due to the support of KIIT and Dr. Samanta. I am confident that I will bring more laurels to the country as well as Odisha, KIIT & KISS in coming days, she said. Dr. Gaganendu Dash, Director, Sports, KIIT Deemed to be University expressed his experience in Napoli. N. Ramesh, Coach of Dutee Chand, Prof. H. K. Mohanty, VC, KIIT Deemed to be University and Prof. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar were also present at the occasion to wish and felicitate Dutee. Earlier, she was given a rousing welcome at Biju Patnaik International airport, Bhubaneswar.
