Hima Das: The Name You Know, Journey You Don’T

Track events:

Track and field events have always been taking a back step for India in major international events. Few of the experts believe that the Indians are less born athletes than the giants of athletic events like America, Australia etc. But, defying the experts and the comments about the athletic future of India, came a 5 ft 6-inch girl from Nagaon, Assam and won the first gold medal for India in an International track event. Hima Das grabbed attention of the entire world by wining the gold medal at the World U-20 Championship in 2018.

With tweets flowing all over from the Prime Minister to the President of the country, she came into the limelight. Like a star during twilight, Hima Das was no less then a star providing her ray of lights to those women who dreamt of being an athlete in India.

How Hima grew?

Dhing, the place where Hima Das hail from might take you by surprise as most of you might not have heard of it. Initial love for football was at prime for Hima Das when her coach Nipon Das noticed her abilities. With the intention of providing more facilities to Hima Das for her bright future, Nipon Das urged her to stay in Guwahati city which was 150 kms from Nagaon. Hima’s father, Ronjit Das was a farmer in a land which is almost struck by flood each year and he made ends meet for his 5 children. Like all other Indian parents, they showed reluctance in letting their daughter leave the house and pursue a career which wasn’t as great as other sporting careers in India. But, little did they realise while letting Hima prepare to run that their daughter would be the Golden Girl that India needed and would create history only at the age of 18 years.

Assam, a place which is not popularly known for producing world class athletes for India was in prime limelight after the popularly known ‘Dhing-Express’ changed the way one saw athletics in India and especially for girls.Hima Das not only overcame poverty, but defied all doubts that ever prevailed over a girl being capable enough to carry the weight of a nation and succeed. She made herself the epitome of hope for all those who ever had an inch of hesitance about going out and run, for all who ever hoped to be a change, for all who always dreamt and dreamt of being not only the best, but the best in the world.

We all wish Hima Das a great future and may her efforts not go in vain as there are more talents waiting to showcase what they have got to win the world.