Star Indian sprinter Hima Das won her second international gold in women’s 200m with a top finish at the Kutno Athletics Meet in Poland on Sunday.
A tomboyish Hima started off with football. She used to kick the ball with boys in the mud pits next to the rice fields in her village. She was advised by a local coach to take up athletics.
ALSO READ: Down the memory lane: Relive the iconic World Cup moments
Soon, the teenager was spotted by Nipon, an athletics coach with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare, during an inter-district meet.
Since then till today, Das has worked hard to improve her athletic skills. Moreover, Hima started her career as an athlete running in the renowned Nurul Amin Stadium in Nagaon district of Assam.
Creating a landmark, the daughter of a rice farmer from Nagaon’s Dhing district has made everyone proud as she became the first woman from India to clinch gold at the IAAF in women’s 400 m final race in Finland.
The 18-year-old sprinter, Das, clocked 51.46 to win the gold, taking the track by storm through her smashing run overtaking three strong rivals from countries including US and Jamaica.
Born and bought up in a poor family, Das, right from her childhood, was a brave-hearted girl donning different hats.
Reflecting on her success, Das’ coach Nipon, narrated her journey. “Earlier she used to play football but later whenever she used to get the time she used to play athletics in inter-district level. In 2016, she participated in inter-district championship held in Sivasagar.
Again in 2017 January, she played in a front-ranking athletic camp organized by the Assam Sports Department in Guwahati where she performed really well. There I decided to get her to Guwahati and trained her,” said Nipon.
Das’ incredible journey which has inspired millions especially youths of the country, couldn’t have been possible without the guiding force of her parents.
This was Hima’s second competitive 200m race of the year. She has a personal best of 23.10s, which she clocked last year.