From PM to celebrities, Hima is toast of the nation
The 18-year-old sprinter becomes the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold at the world level
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday congratulated athlete Hima Das on winning a gold in the women’s 400m race in the World U20 Athletic Championships.
The 18-year-old sprinter scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold at the world level. She clocked 51.46s to win the gold.
“India is delighted and proud of athlete Hima Das, who won a historic Gold in the 400m of World U20 Championships held at Tampere in Finland. This accomplishment will certainly inspire young athletes in the coming years”, the prime minister said on Twitter.
No woman before Das has won a gold medal in a World Championship at any level, be it youth, junior or senior. She is also the first Indian to have won a gold in a track event at the world level.
Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha and Akshay Kumar on Friday congratulated Das.
Here’s what the celebrities tweeted:
Amitabh Bachchan: Congratulation. Hima Das, 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!
Shatrugan Sinha: Yet another brilliant performance from India’s daughter ... Kudos to India’s Hima Das who made history by becoming our first track athlete to become a world champion at any level after winning the women’s 400m at the U-20 World Championships in Tampere, Finland, on Thursday. Hima Das.
Tweets in praise
Akshay Kumar: Historic! Congratulations Hima Das for winning India’s first gold at a global track event in Under — 20 World Athletics. Nicely done.
Farhan Akhtar: Congratulations Hima Das. 400 metre winner in world Under-20 championships. Proud moment.
Born in a poor family in the Nagaon district of Assam, sprinter Hima Das’ has enjoyed a meteoric rise. On Thursday evening, she registered 51.46 seconds in the final of the women’s 400 metre event at the IAAF World U20 Championships.
She had a slow start and was trailing at least three other runners going into the final stretch. But the 18-year-old produced a powerful sprint in the last 100 metres to win by a comfortable margin.