Dutee Chand Cries Foul After Officials Take Business Class Seats

Never one to take injustice lightly.

India’s 100 meter sprinter at the Rio Olympics, Dutee Chand is never one to mince her words.

Always outspoken and fearless, the national champion sent The Quint a voice message from Rio after a harrowing experience while flying down to the host city for the Olympics.

Travelling alone, with no coach, Dutee was forced to fly economy class on the 36 hour journey. Now, that would not be as much a concern, if the sprinter was not accompanied by officials on the flight who booked themselves into business class seats.

I flew alone from Hyderabad, my coach could not come with me. Managers and others are given Business Class tickets but players are being given economy class. It was a 36 hour journey, I could not get proper sleep or rest. If players are treated like this what kind of performance will we give in Olympics?

Dutee Chand, 100m Sprinter

Dutee’s event starts on the 19th of August but as the sprinter pointed out - if at all comfortable seats were available - it should have been the athletes who should have availed them. After all, they are headed to the most important event of their life.

Players should be taken care of. Those who are representing country are being given economy class and team managers are getting business class. In future Olympians should not face such problem

Dutee Chand, 100m Sprinter