Hima Das rewrote her story mid-stride. Abandoning football ambitions, the Assamese prodigy sprinted into the annals of Indian sport, claiming distinctions no woman had before.
Village life in Kandhulimari revolved around football for teen Hima. Her blistering pace drew scouts, redirecting her to tracks. Under guidance, she embraced the 400m, a distance suiting her stamina and speed.
Global stages beckoned swiftly. 2018’s Asian Junior gold opened floodgates. Then, Asian Games silver – historic, with a national record time of 50.79s. First Indian woman to medal in open 400m internationally.
Accolades piled: 200m national record (23.10s), relay triumphs at Asian Athletics Championships. She’s the backbone of India’s 4x400m squads, securing bronzes at World Relays.
Setbacks? Plentiful. Injuries, form dips – but Hima’s mental fortitude prevailed. Post-recovery, she notched wins at Inter-State Championships, signaling peak form.
Her influence extends far. Padma Shri recipient, she’s invested in Assam’s sports infra, inspiring girls to lace up. As she preps for major events, Hima eyes legacy expansion. Her football-to-track metamorphosis isn’t just personal triumph; it’s a national awakening in athletics.