OdishaPlus Bureau
India’s fastest sprinter and student of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University Dutee Chand was felicitated by the KIIT and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) here on 16th July.
Felicitating Dutee, KIIT, and KISS founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta 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 a gold medal in the 100-meter race in a world athletic meet. She clocked 11.32 seconds to achieve the landmark.
During the felicitating ceremony, Dr. Samanta declared that an athletics track in KIIT and KISS would be named after her, i.e, ‘Dutee Chand Athletic Track’ and would be inaugurated soon. Dutee would also lead the KIIT Athletic Academy, which would be established in the future. These would be the best gift from the KIIT and KISS to Dutee, he added.
Dutee thanking Dr. Samanta and KIIT and KISS said that the 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, and KISS in coming days, she said.
KIIT Sports director Dr. Gaganendu Dash, Dutee coach N Ramesh, KIIT University VC Prof HK Mohanty and Registrar Prof Sasmita Samanta were present.