Dutee Chand qualified for Rio Olympics in the women’s 100m event after meeting the qualification mark at XXVI International Meeting G.Kosanov Memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Dutee clocked 11.30s in the 100m heats at the memorial tournament hence beating the Rio Olympics qualification mark of 11.32 secs. Dutee became the first Indian woman to qualify for the event since qualification started for the event. PT Usha had qualified for the event in 1980 Olympics.

Did You Know?

• Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha (born 27 Jun 1964), popularly known as P. T. Usha, is an Indian track and field athlete from the state of Kerala. P. T. Usha has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979.
• She is regarded as one of the greatest athletes India has ever produced and is often called the “queen of Indian track and field”.
• She is nicknamed the Payyoli Express.
• Currently she runs the Usha School of Athletics at Koyilandy in Kerala. P. T. Usha was born in the village of Payyoli, Kozhikode District, Kerala.
• In 1976 the Kerala State Government started a Sports School for women, and Usha was chosen to represent her district.