Bengaluru: Indian athlete Dutee Chand has been named in TIME magazine’s first-ever TIME 100 Next list of most influential people in the world.

The list highlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, health, science and activism, and more. She figures in the list advocates. Other lists are artists, leaders, phenoms and innovators.

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On her Twitter account, sprinter Dutee wrote, “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 (sic).”

Dutee said she is grateful to all her supporters and has expressed gratitude to the TIME for acknowledging her fight.

“I am delighted to receive this recognition from the TIME. I believe in gender equality. I will continue to fight for the rights of young girls and women in sports as well as in the larger society,” Dutee said in an official statement.

“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,” she added.

On Dutee, the magazine wrote, “On the track, Dutee Chand sprints. Off the track, she fights. The 100-m runner from India is preparing to make her second Olympic appearance, in 2020 in Tokyo. In July, she became the first Indian sprinter to win the 100-m at the World University Games.”

TIME Editor-In-Chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal wrote, “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,” he added.

Dutee had won two silver medals — 100m, 200m — at Jakarta Asian Games 2018 and had become the first Indian woman sprinter to win gold at the Universiade in Napoli, where she competed in 100m.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)