Hima Das- Sprint Runner
Hima Das is an Indian sprint runner from Assam born on 9th January 2000. In 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, Indonesia 19 years old Das conquered the Indian national record in 400 meters clocking 50.79 seconds. Girl from Khandulimari, a remote place from Nagaon's Dhing village who dreamed big, also bagged her first gold medal in 400 meters clocking a time of 51.46 seconds in 2018 IAAF World cup U20 Championship. Das is also nicknamed as the ‘Dhing Express' the only girl from Assam to win gold medal at her International debut. Hima is India's new athletic sensation also titled as India's ( sone ki chidiyan) Golden Girl.
Life before
Hima Das belongs to a poor family who lived in a joint family with other 17 members. Her parents, Ronjit Das is a farmer and her mother Jomali Das helps him in farming. Hima was a football player before, who played with boys during her schooldays. As her father was a football player too she was inspired from him and followed his steps in sports. Hima is a girl who believes in herself and saw no difficulty being a girl to achieve what she desired for.
Achievements
It all started when her coach Nipon Das spotted her for the first time wearing cheap spikes at the inter-district meet back in 2016. In spite of limited equipment and training facilities Hima won bronze medal in the state meet. After which, she outreach the 100m final at the junior nationals the same year. Later she was advised to shift Guwahati by her coach Nipon Das, 140km away from her village and induced her to pursue athletics. Her parents were reluctant about her shifting but later they agreed. Hima was trained by Nipon Das and Nabajit Malakar at Guwahati.
• In 2018 IAAF Worldcup U20 Championship she claimed gold medal in 400m clocking a duration of 51. 46 seconds and became the first athlete to win a world championship title in any track event.
She was congratulated by Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi and President of India Ram Nath Kovind. The next day after winning the gold medal, the only thing she saw on her social media was her pictures and the nation congratulating her.
• In the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, she finished sixth in women’s 400-meter final. • Later, in August she gained Silver Medal in the Asian Games in Indonesia. • On July 2 at the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix in Poland she won gold medal at her first competitive 200m race of the year clocking 23.65 second. • She won her second 200m gold of the month at the Kutno Athletics Meet, also in Poland, on July with a time of 23.97 seconds. • She bagged third 200m gold at Kladno Athletics Meet in Czech Republic with a time of 23.43 seconds on July 13. • Again on 17 July star sprinter clinched her fourth gold of the fortnight as she won the 200m in the Tabor Athletics Meet in Czech Republic. • On 20 July claiming her fifth 400m gold of the month at Nove Mesto in Czech Republic.
She created sensation by bagging 5 golds just in 19 days. Also, she has been named in the World Championship Team as a relay runner on 9 September.
Awards and other accolades • Star athlete Hima Das received The Arjuna Award on 25 September by the President of India. • She was featured in foremost GQ Indian magazine as the “ Young Indian of the year" on October, 2018. • Hima Das is the Brand Ambassador of Assam Fire and Emergency Services. • She was further appointed as the state’s brand ambassador for sports by Assam Government. • In future, she was assigned as India's first ever youth ambassador by UNICEF. • Adidas India signed Hima Das for her massive success for an endorsement deal.