Sister frowns on Dutee Chand’s love, vows expulsion

Unapologetic about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, India’s fastest woman Dutee Chand is facing a tough battle of acceptance in her family. Dutee, who won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, became one of the few athletes in the world to openly admit to a same-sex relationship.

However, her announcement has not gone down well with her family, which has threatened to expel or even imprison her. “My eldest sister kind of wields power and authority in my family. She has thrown out my elder brother from home because she does not like his wife. She has threatened that the same will happen to me also. But I am also an adult who has individual freedom. So, I decided to go ahead with this and make it public,” she said on Sunday, after coming out in public and saying she is in a relationship with a woman relative from her village.

“My eldest sister feels that my partner is interested in my property. She has told me that she will send me to jail for having this relationship,” she said.

Dutee, the 100-metre national record holder, said her parents haven’t raised any objection to her relationship. And while she refused to name her partner, she said they are from the same village and is studying BA in a Bhubaneshwar college. She added that she wants to settle down with the girl in the future.

“I am having a relationship with a 19-year-old woman from my village for the past five years. She is studying BA 2nd year in a Bhubaneswar college. She is a relative of mine and whenever I come home, I spend time with her. She is kind of a soulmate for me, and I want to settle down with her in the future,” Dutee, 23, told PTI.

She said the couple together decided to make their relationship public.

“We agreed that we should make this public and face whatever repercussions it may bring. I believe in individual freedom and the right to decide with whom I will live my life,” she said, adding that another reason for coming out in the open was to avoid a repeat of what happened with fellow sprinter Pinki Pramanik. Pinki, a member of the 2006 Asian Games 4x400m relay gold winning team, was accused of rape by her live-in partner. “We did not want this kind of a situation happening in the future,” Dutee said.

As for the future, Dutee said, her focus will be on her athletics career. I am going to take part in the World University Games next month and hope to qualify for the World Championships later this year. I aim to qualify for next year’s Olympics, so I am training hard,” she said.

CHAND IS A STAR ON TWITTER

• Social media feted Dutee Chand for her announcement on Sunday, with several tweets of encouragement
   
• Many hoped it would herald the start of a new dawn, since she is the first openly gay athlete in India