The 18-year-old ace sprinter Hima Das, who won the country's first gold medal in a World Championships, broke down in tears during the national anthem after receiving her medal. She clocked 51.46s to bag the gold medal in the 400m finals at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Finland.
Hima Das is daughter of farmer parents from Kandhulimari village of Nagaon district in Assam is also a socially conscious teenager who took the lead in demolishing country liquor vends in her village. She is fondly called “Dhing Express” by people in her village.
Many film personalities, cricketers and politicians paid tribute to sprinter Hima Das for her incredible achievement. Superstar Mahesh Babu congratulated Hima Das with the following tweet:
“Incredible feat by #HimaDas. One of the brightest moment in the history of Indian sports. Super proud & super happy for you, @HimaDas8... Congratulations! #HimaDasGoldenGirl #MakingIndiaProud,” tweeted Mahesh Babu.
Overwhelmed with the accolades that came her way, Hima Das thanked those who congratulated her.