Meet Indian sprint runner : Hima Das

Hima Das nicknamed the Dhing Express, is an Indian sprint runner from the state of Assam. She holds the current Indian national record in 400 meters with a timing of 50.79 s that she clocked at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in a track event at the IAAF World U20 Championships. Hima Das was born at Kandhulimari village, near the town of Dhing in the state of Assam to Ronjit and Jonali Das. Her parents are farmers by profession. She is the youngest of five children. She attended the Dhing Public high School and was initially interested in playing football. She played football with the boys at her school and had always wanted to pursue a career in football. However, she did not see any prospects for herself in women’s football in India. Later, upon advice from a school physical education teacher, Shamsul Hoque, she changed to sprint running. Das passed 12th-grade exam from Assam Higher Secondary Education Council in May 2019. Das is the second athlete from Assam after Bhogeswar Baruah to win a gold medal at an international event.

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