Assam ricefields, Hima Das, 18, gives India its first world gold medal

Hima Das becomes the first Indian woman to win gold at the World Junior Championships in Athletics. (AFI Twitter)

JUST 18 months after running his first competitive race – an inter-district meet in Sivasagar, Assam – Hima Das, 18, created the history of athletics. Daughter of a rice farmer from Dhing Village in Nagaon District, she got India's first-ever gold medal by winning the 400-meter final at the U-20 World Championships. years in Tampere, Finland.

Hima started slowly and dragged on the home stretch, but her flamboyant run in the last 80 meters, where she pbaded three rivals, saw her 51.46 seconds.

In Guwahati, his trainer Nipon Das said that he was not worried when Hima was not among the top three at the final curve. "Her race starts in the last 80 meters, her progress shows just how much potential she has, it's only been two years since she's been wearing spikes for the first time," says the coach of her division. the personal best is 51.13 seconds.

With this win, Hima joins an elite club of Indian athletes having won medals at the U20 World Championships.But she is the only runner in a Hall of Fame who has throwers like Seema Punia (bronze, discus), Navjeet Kaur Dhillon (bronze, discus) and Neeraj Chopra (gold, javelin)

Hima Das !!!!!

Here is the first gold medal from India to a World Track Event # IAAFTampere2018 pic.twitter.com/9KWqMcmKZY

– Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) July 12, 2018 [19659011] https : //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Those Who Followed the Hima Rise had planned a podium in Finland. After setting the fastest times in the playoffs and semi-finals, the sprinter was featured in a field dominated by runners from the US and Jamaican powers. After entering the final, she managed to make a small comment. "I appreciate it," she said.

Hima started with football, kicking boys in the mud holes next to the paddy fields. A local coach advised him to do athletics.

Soon, the teenager was spotted by Nipon, a track and field coach of the Sports and Youth Welfare Branch, at an inter-district meeting. "She was wearing cheap spades but she won gold at 100 and 200. She ran like the wind, I have not seen such talent for a long time," says Nipon.

Coach asked Hima to travel to Guwahati, 140 km from her village, and convinced the young woman that she had a future in athletics.His parents, Ronjit Das and Jomali, were at home. First reluctant to let the youngest of six children leave, but Nipon not being ready to hear a no, they gave in.

Nipon arranged for Hima to stay in rented accommodation near the complex Sarusajai sportsman.He finally convinced the officials to integrate into the State Academy, specializing in boxing and football. "There was no wing Separate for athletics but the officials were open to Hima being part of the academy after seeing his performances. Assam is not known to produce runners, "he says.

Nipon has been a constant guiding force. "I keep telling Hima only one thing: Dream big, because only a few are blessed with the talent given by God." My goal was to try to make it part of the relay team for the Asian Games, but it has surpbaded all expectations by winning a world championship of gold in the individual event. "

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