Hima faces a new test, this time in classroom
She has been scorching the track with one record after another but India’s new sprint sensation Hima Das doesn’t want to be left behind in studies either and is juggling between training and board exams these days.
The sprinter from Assam’s Kandhulimari village in Nagaon district became a star overnight after becoming the world junior champion in 400m. She kept improving her timing through 2018, culminating in a national record time of 50.79 seconds while winning silver in the Asian Games. She is currently appearing for her class 12 exams under the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council.
“I am looking at some major tournaments in 2019 and I am trying to focus on my training along with taking examination,” Hima told PTI from Guwahati.
Hima’s board exams began on February 12 and will go on till the middle of March. She is not staying at her native village to appear for the examination at nearby Dhing College. She is shuttling between her home and the SAI hostel in Guwahati, which is 120kms away. “I have made my schedule in such a way that whenever I am getting time from studies, I do my training,” said Hima. Hima’s next paper is on Saturday (February 16) and she will come back home from Guwahati on the evening of Friday, her cousin Bijoy Das said.
“She came on the evening of February 11, appeared for her first paper the next morning and left home for Guwahati in the afternoon just after the examination is over,” Bijoy said.
The athletics season starts next month with the Federation Cup National Championships, which will serve as the selection trial for the Asian Championships (April 21-14), at Patiala from March 15 to 18.