MUMBAI: TIME magazine has named Dutee Chand, India’s fastest woman & Olympian, to its first-ever TIME 100 Next, a new expansion of the TIME 100 list of the most influential people in the world, covers 100 emerging personalities who have been and are expected to be influential in the field of business, entertainment, sports, politics, health, science and activism.
The full list will be published in the November 25 issue of TIME magazine.
Olympian Chand, India’s first openly gay athlete, had recently won the Vogue sportsperson of the year award.
Expressing gratitude to her supporters, Dutee said in an official statement: “I am delighted to receive this recognition from the TIME. I believe in gender equality and I will continue to fight for the rights of young girls and women in sports as well as in the larger society.
“PUMA was the first brand that came forward to sign me as their brand ambassador in India. I have received a lot of support and encouragement from the brand. I’m really happy to be a PUMA athlete and represent the brand globally.”
Dutee further posted on her official Twitter handle: “Ecstatic and Humbled!
“Honoured to be in Time 100 Next 2019. On the track, I’ll sprint?
“Off the track, I’ll fight?
“Fight for Inclusion, Equality, Rights and dignity of People. #loveislove https://t.co/8aA5jxiJUu
“— Dutee Chand (@DuteeChand) November 13, 2019”
“Congratulations to Dutee Chand, the fastest woman of India, on being shortlisted in the esteemed Time 100 Next 2019 list. May she always sprint her way to glory both on and off the track,” tweeted Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Of the list, TIME editor-in-chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal writes: “When we first published our TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people 15 years ago, it was dominated by individuals who rose through traditional power structures: heads of state, CEOs of public companies, actors from big-budget blockbusters, leaders of global foundations.
“What has been striking about more recent editions is the growing number of individuals who did not need an establishment to command international attention – people like Parkland students (in 2018) and Greta Thunberg (in 2019). TIME has always been a barometer of influence – and the nature of influence is changing.”
