**Bhubaneswar: ** As Dutee Chand, Odisha’s ace sprinter gears up for the D- day at the Rio Olympics, her co-villagers of Gopalpur in Jajpur district went a step ahead to wish all the success to the daughter of the soil.
In a bid to do their bit to wish her luck, the villagers organised a two-day long ‘yagna’ (ceremonial rites to seek God’s blessings). They have also lit ‘Akanda Deepa’ (lighting of ceaseless ceremonial lamp) before the village presiding deity.
Dutee’s event is scheduled to be held on August 12, but her fellow-villagers organised this ‘yagna’ much before the event amid religious fervor and pious spirit. Hundreds of people gathered for the ‘yagna’ wishing her good luck and garnering blessings for her from the Almighty.
“We are praying for Dutee’s victory. I wish she wins a medal and makes Odisha and India proud,” said Dutee’s proud father Chakradhar Chand.
Notably, Dutee is the daughter of a humble and diligent weaver of the nondescript village of Gopalpur, which has now shot into limelight after the ace sprinter got qualified for the premier global sports extravaganza.
“The villagers were on cloud nine on the day Dutee qualified for the Olympics. Now all of them are praying for her stupendous success. With good wishes and blessings pouring in from all quarters along with her hard work, I strongly believe that she will be able to clinch the gold medal at Rio Olympics”, said Saraswati, Dutee’s elder sister, who is also a renowned athlete of the Odisha Police.
Need to be mentioned, elder sister Saraswati is younger sister Dutee’s icon and source of inspiration.
