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Nicknamed the Dhing Express, Hima Das, the Golden Girl, has catapulted to fame in a short time. Vijayhardik profiles the emerging field and track sensation, exclusively for Different Truths.
Indian Athletics has had a few national heroes sparsely spread over the decades.
The latest sensation is Hima Das. She is in the legacy of the celebrated athletes before her.
The first athlete in modern Indian history to make India’s presence felt in the track and field events on the world stage was Milkha Singh. Coming from an underprivileged background, he joined the Indian Army. It was there that his talent in the field of athletics was recognised.
The first athlete in modern Indian history to make India’s presence felt in the track and field events on the world stage was Milkha Singh.
He became a legend in his own right by becoming the first Indian to win an individual gold in the Commonwealth Games. He won the coveted gold in the 1958 and 1962 Asian Games. But the race which he is remembered for was the final of the 400m race in the 1960 Rome Olympic Games where he lost the race after leading it at the halfway mark.
‘The Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh was the pioneer of athletics in India. He held the torch until PT Usha and later Anju Bobby George came on to the scene.
‘The Payolli Express’ claim to fame was the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. With impressive performances in the pre-Olympic season, Anju was one of the favourites.
‘The Payolli Express’ claim to fame was the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. With impressive performances in the pre-Olympic season, Anju was one of the favourites. However, she lost the bronze by a whisker.
Since then India has been longing for a star to emerge from the field of athletics. Many players had shown promise to shine on the world stage. But they either got caught up in doping scandals like Ashwini Akkunji or failed to handle the pressure of the international arena and faded into oblivion.
However, in recent times with the government giving enough importance to sports and supporting the athletes through various sponsored and funded programs such as the Khelo India initiative, The TOP and Quest for Gold programs have created a new breed of sportspersons who are much better prepared to succeed on the world stage.
One such sporting talent to make her mark in world of track and field in a remarkably short time is the girl from Dhing, Hima. She burst on to the international arena in July 2018 becoming the first Indian athlete to a win a gold medal at an IAAF track
One such sporting talent to make her mark in world of track and field in a remarkably short time is the girl from Dhing, Hima. She burst on to the international arena in July 2018 becoming the first Indian athlete to a win a gold medal at an IAAF track when she conquered the 400m event final in the U20 Championships. Her achievement made the nation and the world take note of her.
Fast tracked into the Indian contingent for the 2018 Asian Games at Jakarta-Palembang, she made her presence felt. She bagged a haul of one gold and two silvers at the quadrennial event. In the 4×400 Women’s Relay Event she won a team gold while bagging a team silver in 4×400 Mixed Relay Event. In the individual events, she failed to qualify for the 200m finals due to a false start. Though in the 400m event, she broke the national record twice. She clocked 51.00 secs in the heats and an even impressive 50.79 secs in the final to win a silver medal.
She has been making headlines recently for winning five gold medals in a span of 19 days.
She has been making headlines recently for winning five gold medals in a span of 19 days. Participating in the European track and field circuit currently being held in Poland and Czech Republic she has taken the pole position in all the races she has taken part in.
It is quite rare that an Indian athlete grabs the accolades at the international athletics meets. With Hima grabbing five gold medals consecutively at Poznan, Kutno, Kladno, Tabor and Prague, she has catapulted into the limelight.
In Prague, she ran the 400m event which is her main event and won the gold clocking 52.09 secs.
Nicknamed the Dhing Express, Hima won the 200m event at the first four events. 
Though not her preferred event it is being used as a platform to bring her fitness to requisite levels as she is coming back from an injury lay off. In Prague, she ran the 400m event which is her main event and won the gold clocking 52.09 secs.
Her recent successes on the European circuit have made her a sporting star. She has been the recipient of many accolades pouring in from all over the country. From Bollywood celebrities to politicians are showering praise on her. Even her colleagues from the sporting fraternity are quite pumped about her performance.
This successful run of winning races has won her the epithet of ‘The Golden Girl’
This successful run of winning races has won her the epithet of ‘The Golden Girl’. Hima Das now has certain expectations from the adulating masses of India ho do not hesitate in putting down sportspersons if their performance does not match the standards expected by the fandom. From now onwards every time she gets on to the track to perform she will have to carry the burden of expectations of many people.
While her recent performances have given her the soubriquet ‘The Golden Girl’, her legacy will be cemented in time if she can live up to her soubriquet at major international events.
Wishing her all the best and hope that she continues her rich vein of form to cement her place in Indian sporting history.
Photos sourced by the author from the Internet
