Indian sprinter Hima Das has scripted athletics history as she becomes the first Indian woman to win a gold at the world level as she clinched the top spot in the women's 400m final race in the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Tampere (Finland).
Indian sprinter Hima Das has scripted athletics history as she becomes the first Indian woman to win a gold at the world level. She clinched the top spot in the women's 400m final race in the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Tampere (Finland).
Hima Das, 18-year-old girl, daughter of rice farmer from Dhing village in Nagaon District, Assam has made India proud and got its first ever track gold at global event. Das won the 400 metre final at the World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland. She claimed the top position after clocking 51.46 seconds on the track event. She also led the time charts on the semifinals also witha atime frame of 51.20 seconds on Wednesday. Das started slow and trailed on the home stretch but blazed down in the final 80m run clocking 51.46, knocking down three rivals.
Hima Das kick started her journey with playing football with boys in the mud pits next to the rice fields. Later, she was suggested by a local coach to take up athletics. Her athletic performance during an inter-district meet had put her in the limelight. Her talent was spotted by Nipon Das, an athletics coach with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare. “She was wearing cheap spikes but she won gold in the 100 and 200. She ran like the wind. I hadn’t seen such a talent in ages,” Nipon says.
The athletic coach asked Hima to relocate herself 140km away from her village in Guwahati. He also convinced her of her bright future in athletics. Her parents were initially reluctant to let the youngest child of the family leave. Nipon did not give up and they finally agreed.
Nipon later arranged a rented accomodation near the Sarusajai Sports Complex. He also convinced the officials to induct her into the state academy which specialised in boxing and football. “There was no separate wing for athletics but the officials were open to Hima being part of the academy after seeing her performances. Assam is not known to produce runners,” he says.
In May 2017, at the New delhi Indian GP, she finished at the fifth position in 100m track event. Nevertheless, she showed what she was capable of by securing the first position at the Chennai Indian Open for a 200m track event. At the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games this April, Hima finished sixth at the 400m (51.32 seconds) and seventh at the 4x400m relay. However, her personal best at the 400m didn't come in Tampere, but at the Inter State Championships at Guwahati this June where she clocked 51.13 seconds.
Hima Das has performed incredibly well this year, with podium finishes at 100m, 200m, 400m and 4X400 relay at Patiala, Jakarta nad Guwahati. Ahead of the Tampere 400m final, Hima cruised into the semi-final as the fastest qualifier overall, clocking 52.25s. She entered the women’s 400m final after winning the semi-final in 52.10s.
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