In a new revelation about her same-sex relationship, sprinter Dutee Chand said she and her partner had exchanged rings in 2018, according to The Indian Express.
Speaking to the newspaper, the Asian Games silver medallist said that her partner had declared her love on Valentine’s Day via a WhatsApp message.
I was in Hyderabad. She sent me a WhatsApp message saying there is a matter of the heart, which I wanted to tell you about. I asked her what it was, and she said she was in love with me. So she proposed to me on Valentine’s DayDutee Chand to The Indian Express
“Around the time of the Asian Games last year, my partner and I had exchanged rings. It was not an official ceremony or anything. We just went to a temple and did puja and we exchanged rings” she added.
She further said that she had told some of her fellow sprinters about the ring exchange.
Earlier, Dutee had said that the Supreme Court’s decision to legitimise same-sex relationship had given her the courage to come out in the open.
The Indian athlete received a lot of support from different quarters, including global gay rights icon Ellen DeGeneres, after she announced her relationship status and alleged pressure and blackmail by her sister on the issue. .
“I have been getting hundreds of phone calls. I knew it would make news, but didn’t realise the extent to which people would discuss it, tweet about it, and want to talk to me about it,” said Dutee to the national daily. “I just saw a positive comment by (actress and writer) Twinkle Khanna and Ellen (DeGeneres) tweeting about me” said Dutee.