Kovind, Modi, Rahul hail Hima

New Delhi, July 13: President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday hailed Hima Das who created history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a gold at an IAAF event.

“Congratulations to our sensational sprint star Hima Das for winning the 400m gold in the World Under-20 (in Finland)... A very proud moment for Assam and India, Hima; now the Olympic podium beckons,” the President said in a tweet.

Modi tweeted: “This accomplishment will certainly inspire young athletes in the coming years.”

Tense at the start, Das began slow and trailed on the home stretch, but her blazing run in the final 80m, as she overtook three rivals, saw her clocking 51.46 seconds.

Gandhi posted a video on Twitter and marked it “so special”. “This is India’s first ever Gold in a track event at a world championship. I salute her achievement and congratulate her on her historic win,” the Congress chief said. IANS