Athlete Hima Das gets grand welcome home
Guwahati, Sept. 7: Sprint sensation Hima Das returned to her home state Assam on Friday to a rousing reception, following her exploits at the Asian Games.
The 18-year-old sprinter, fondly called ‘Dhing Express’ after her village, had gone to the Indonesian capital after training in Europe.
Hima was received at the LPGB airport here by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and many of his cabinet colleagues with a traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’ (scarf of honour) around her neck. Her farmer parents Ronjit and Jonali Das were also present at the airport.
Escorted out by 25 Assam Police special women commandos ‘Birangona’, the athlete walked on a specially laid out red carpet designed like a running track with number markings.
‘Amar ghoror suwali’ (girl from our place), shouted students, sports lovers, political leaders, people from her village Dhing, who were waiting outside the terminal building.
To the beats of drum and Bihu dances, the sprinter, wearing a red track suit jacket with blue jeans, was taken in a white luxury car. The vehicle with Hima standing through its sun roof was part of procession of cars. Hima is the sports and culture secretary of the AASU unit in her home village Dhing.
Out of IAAF Cup
Meanwhile, Hima has pulled out of the IAAF Continental Cup as the Athletics Federation of India wants her to give rest after a hectic season which saw her become the junior world 400m champion.
The prestigious tournament is to be held in Czech Republic from Saturday.
Hima was initially among seven Indian athletes who were to take part in the season-ending IAAF event in Ostrava on September 8 and 9 but has now been replaced by Australia’s Anneliese Rubbie as the second runner from Asia-Pacific.
“Yes, Hima is not running in the IAAF Continental Cup. The AFI has decided to give her rest. She has run so many races this year from the Commonwealth Games to the World Juniors and the Asian Games. It is not good to make her run so many races,” a top source said.