Hima Das Shatters National record, Wins Silver at 2018 Asian Games

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 26: Known as ‘Dhing Express’, 18-year-old Hima Das scripted history once again by winning the silver medal in women’s 400 meter finals at the Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games on Sunday. The mesmerizing young sprinter has also broken her national record in the event. She had set a new national record of 51.00 seconds at the semis in Jakarta on Saturday. Her new timing after winning the silver on Sunday is 50.79 seconds.

Hima Das is the second person from Assam after Bhogeswar Barua to make a mark in the world track-and-event meet. Bhogeswar Barua had won the gold medal in men's 800-meter race at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1966.

The entire populace of the State along with the nation have been enthusiastic about Hima’s performances in the Asian Games. In fact, the people in her home village at Kandhulimari, near Dhing of Nagaon district, were following her in a massive screen put up at her house. Prayers were offered prior to the commencement of the finals.

Reacting on the sterling performance of Hima, her father Ronjit Das said: “We are happy at her performance. She has bettered the records, and that is quite an achievement.” Her mother Jonali Das was equally ecstatic: “Hima has done her best. We pray that she is able to deliver such performances in future too. The Olympics will be her next goal.”

Hima’s coach Nipon Das who is in Jakarta as well justifiably expressed his happiness at her performance.

Born to a family of farmers, Hima is the youngest of five siblings. She attended the Dhing Public High School and initially was interested in playing football during her childhood. She played the sport with the boys at her school and wanted to pursue a career in football. However , she did not see any prospect in women’s football in India and was even unsure about the existence of a national women’s football team in India. Later, a teacher of her school told her to try out athletics and she decided to switch over to athletics and began participating in short and middle distance races.

Hima got her initial coaching under Nipon Das, an athletics coach from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare, and participated in an inter-district competition. The coach asked her to shift to Guwahati for better training. Hima’s parents reluctantly agreed to the shifting proposal. She then moved near to Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati and got enrolled to the state academy.

Hima competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 400 metres and the 4x400 metres relay. In the 400 metres, Das qualified for the final where she finished sixth in a time of 51.32 seconds; 1.17 seconds behind gold medalist Amantle Montsho from Botswana. In the 4x400 metres relay she was part of the Indian team that competed in the final. They finished seventh, with a time of 3 minutes and 33.61 seconds.

Das became the first Indian sprinter to win a Gold at a world meet when she ran to her victory at the World U-20 Championships 2018 at Tampere, Finland, in Women’s 400 metres clocking a timing of 51.46 seconds. Having run a slower first half, Das accelerated on the last 100 metre stretch overtaking three competitors en route to the gold medal. Das is now among the group of Indian athletes who have won medals at the World U20 Championships, which includes Seema Punia (Bronze, Discus throw), Navjeet Kaur Dhillon (Bronze, Discus throw) and Neeraj Chopra (Gold, Javelin throw).

Hima Das would be further participating in the 200 metres and also the 4x400 metres relay race in Jakarta.