Hima Das Garners Praise From All After Becoming First Indian To Win Gold In U-20 Competition

For a very long time Indian sports has been obsessed with only two things: cricket and football. However, due to the over-saturation of those games via private leagues and championships, people’s attention has gravitated to other avenues as well.

From weightlifting to archery, India has shined in various categories. While the number of winners were scarce before, it improved exponentially during the Commonwealth Games. And joining the long list of women who’ve done our country proud is Hima Das.

Sprinter Hima Das made history by becoming the first Indian to win the gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships.

Hima Das took part in the women’s 400m race on Thursday at the World Championships in Finland. The 18-year-old looked tense during the starting block and that might’ve resulted in her slow run in the beginning. However, it was her blistering 80m dash at the end that took Hima to the gold medal.

Despite being the daughter of a rice farmer from Dhing village in Assam, Das has always been naturally gifted in the field of athletics. Her coach says that it has just been two years since she first wore her spikes. But due to her continued progress through the National Inter-State Championships and Commonwealth Games, she was able to become victorious.

Accolades started coming in from India for Hima Das because being the first Indian to win something in any field is no easy task.

1. It’ll be a moment Hima will remember.

Congratulations #HimaDas.. 400 meter winner in world Under-20 championships.. proud moment.

It’s amazing that it coincides with the 5 year anniversary of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag & Milkha-ji’s biggest dream was to witness an Indian athlete win Gold in track & field. 😊👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) July 12, 2018

2. Congrats from a legend.

T 2865 – CONGRATULATIONS .. #HimaDas , the first Indian Women to win a GOLD in World Athletic track event EVER ! INDIA is proud of you .. you have given us reason to hold up our heads HIGH ! JAI HIND !! 🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Q0YVCx6FSf

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 12, 2018

3. Hima’s name will be taken in history books.

Take a bow #HimaDas pic.twitter.com/Dy4OXLUJZI

— Rema Rajeshwari IPS (@rama_rajeswari) July 12, 2018

4. Her win will be an inspiration for all.

Many Congratulations #HimaDas for winning Gold medal in 400m of World U20 Championships. You have created history by becoming the 1st Indian athlete to win Gold in track event of U-20 World Championships. More power to you. https://t.co/zidTUcW59G

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) July 13, 2018

5. Hima is proof that you can achieve everything if you want to.

#HimaDas, the youngest among five children of a farmer in #Assam's Nagaon district, played football as a striker for her school team. Today, she became the first Indian to win gold in any world track event. She struck gold in 400m at #IAAFTampere2018 pic.twitter.com/zEv0mBXn0e

— Anupam Bordoloi (@asomputra) July 12, 2018

6. Some cliches are worth enjoying.

She came, she saw, she conquered.

Clichéd and widely used in sports. But how often do you get to use it for an Indian sportsperson!

Special special moment #HimaDas #iaaftampere2018 pic.twitter.com/fi22YkQXSy

— Vaibhav Manocha (@BeingMinchu) July 12, 2018

7. From one champ to another.

Congratulations #HimaDas for bringing the first world event gold in track event at the World U-20 Championships! pic.twitter.com/MmmxOrIFRN

— Manika Batra (@manikabatra_TT) July 13, 2018

8. So many emotions.

When you realise what you have just done for your country…. this was #HimaDas during the national anthem.#IAAFTampere2018 pic.twitter.com/sWlE1nYh5n

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) July 12, 2018

9. She deserves all the praise.

WELL Done Golden Girl Hima
first Indian woman to win Gold in #WorldJuniorAthleticsChampionship
PROUD OF YOU CHAMPION!!#HimaDas ✌🏻✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/HML2ScxZMe

— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) July 13, 2018

10. Applause from the Sports Minister himself.

Hima Das creates history by winning Gold medal in 400m of World U20 Championships. She is 1st Indian athlete to win Gold in track event of U-20 World Championships. You have made 🇮🇳 proud. #NariShakti

— Col Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) July 12, 2018

11. The historic moment!

There! In case you missed it. #himadas https://t.co/uD589WWikC

— Suprita Das (@suprita2009) July 12, 2018

12. She has a long way to go.

Congratulations Hima Das ! Created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships. #HimaDas #prideOfIndia #girlpower pic.twitter.com/YPJwrDZUwl

— Kasturi Shankar (@KasthuriShankar) July 12, 2018

13. Keep ’em coming, Hima.

From Assam"s rice fields,Indian sprinter Hima Das scripts history clinching gold at IAAF world under 20 athletics championship. You made India proud beyond words!#HimaDas#FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/EY6Jd0wl9T

— Geetika Swami (@SwamiGeetika) July 13, 2018

14. “First ever” has got a nice ring to it.

And yet another #girl makes #India proud!! India’s first ever track #Goldmedal in a #WorldChampionship comes via #HimaDas! Congratulations on finishing in 51.46 seconds in the women under 20 #iaaftampere2018 in #Finland pic.twitter.com/CPG3Iu9RzZ

— Tisca Chopra (@tiscatime) July 12, 2018

15. It was worth the wait.

How long have we waited for this day..

Take a bow, #HimaDas. pic.twitter.com/aAPtyqcmHi

— Shuvro Ghoshal (@shuvro_ghoshal) July 12, 2018

Hima’s journey began in the rice fields of Assam playing football but now she has become an inspiration for the nation. And while her coach Nipon’s dream was to include her in the relay race team in the Asian games, she has surpassed all expectations by winning a world championship. Additionally, since she brought home the gold, Hima has joined the likes of Seema Punia, Navjeet Kaur Dhillon and Neeraj Chopra in the hall of fame.