Hima Das

Some Lesser Known Facts About Hima Das

• Prior to getting into the track & field event, Hima was interested in Football. She used to play football with boys at her school and even wanted to pursue her career in Football.

• Later, Hima opted sprint as her career; upon advice from a school physical education teacher named Shamsul Hoque.

• Nippon (Hima’s Coach) spotted her during an inter-district meet. He says-
  

  She was wearing cheap spikes, but she won gold in the 100 and 200. She ran like the wind. I hadn’t seen such a talent in ages.”

• The coach pressurized Hima to shift to Guwahati, 140 km away from her village and convinced her that she had a future in athletics.

• Hima was first trained in Guwahati’s Sarusajai stadium by head coach Nipon Das and Nabajit Malakar.

  

• In Guwahati, Hima Das, who was used to running 100 m and 200 m, was asked to switch to 400 m.

• Her parents were initially reluctant to let her go, but, later, they agreed.

  

• Hima’s father, Ronjit Das, was a fast runner himself. He says-
  

  When Hima told me that she wanted to pursue sports, I saw no point in stopping her. Her passion is real. And there’s no stopping passion like that.”

• After winning the gold medal in the World U20 Championship, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her on Twitter.

• Indian President Ram Nath Kovind also congratulated her on Twitter.

• The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) mocked her English prior to winning event, but later it apologized after Das grabbed the gold medal.

• In the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, she finished sixth in women’s 400-meter final.

• In August 2018, she won a Silver Medal in the Asian Games held in Indonesia.

  

• On 25 September 2018, the Government of India conferred Hima Das with the Arjuna Award.

  

• Hima Das is a big fan of Sachin Tendulkar and in September 2018, she received a jersey signed by Sachin Tendulkar.

  

• In October 2018, GQ India Magazine featured Hima Das on its cover as the “Young Indian of the Year.”

  

• In July 2019, Hima Das created sensations in India after winning five gold medals in a single month.

• After Bhogeswar Baruah, Hima is the first athlete from Assam to win a gold medal at an international event.

• Hima Das is the Brand Ambassador of Assam Fire and Emergency Services.

View this post on Instagram

জুই যিকোনো মূহুৰ্ততে যিকোনো ঠাইতে লাগিব পাৰে । গতিকে সহজতে জুই লাগিব পৰা উৎস বোৰৰ পৰা সতৰ্ক হওঁক যাতে আকস্মিক ভাৱে ঘটা এনেধৰণৰ ঘটনাৰ পৰা হাত সাৰিব পাৰি!!! আপোনাৰ অকন সতৰ্কতা তথা সাৱধানতাই আপোনাৰ জীৱনতো বিপদ মুক্ত কৰি তুলিব ।। Fire may take any time, so be alert and careful with all the things happening in the fire. ASSAM FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES, বিপদ বন্ধু বিপদ বন্ধু!!

A post shared by hima das (@hima_mon_jai) on Apr 11, 2019 at 10:46am PDT

• Hima Das is also the brand ambassador of Adidas.

  

• Hima campaigns to break archaic taboos like menstruation and openly advocates for women empowerment.

  

• In an interview, Hima’s father said-
  

  When she was 7, she used to tell me ‘Deuta (Father), I want to fly on an airplane one day’. But look at her today — she’s done so much more than that.”

• On 1 November 2019, she appeared on the special “Karamveer” shoe of KBC Season 11 along with Dutee Chand. 

• On 26 February 2021, the Assam government appointed her as a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) in Assam Police during an event in Guwahati. While speaking on the occasion, Hima Das said,
  

  This has come as a part of government’s policy. I will focus on sports for now. I will join the service after retiring from sports.”

• In October 2021, she took to Twitter to reveal that she was tested positive for the COVID-19. She tweeted,
  

  I would like to inform everyone that I have been tested positive for Covid-19. I am stable and at the moment in isolation. I look forward to utilising this time to recover and come back stronger than before.”

• Here’s an interesting video about Hima Das’ biography: