Indian 400m sprinter
Hima Das
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| Native name | হিমা দাস |
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| Birth name | Hima Das |
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| Nickname | Dhing Express[1][2] |
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| Born | (2000-01-09) 9 January 2000 (age 24)
Dhing, Nagaon, Assam, India[2][3] |
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| Height | 167 cm (5 ft 6 in)[2] |
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| Weight | 54 kg (119 lb) |
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| Country |  India |
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| Sport | Track and field |
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| Event(s) | 100 m
200 m
400 m |
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| Coached by | Galina Bukharina[2] |
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| Personal bests | 100 m – 11.63 (2021)
200 m – 22.88 (2021)[4]
400 m – 50.79 (NR, 2018)[5][6] |
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| Updated on 21 July 2019. |
Hima Das (born 9 January 2000), nicknamed Dhing Express,[7] is an Indian sprinter from the state of Assam. She holds the current Indian national record in 400 meters with a timing of 50.79 s that she clocked at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in a track event at the IAAF World U20 Championships. She was appointed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Assam Police[8] under the state's Integrated Sport Policy.[9]
Early life
Hima Das was born at Kandhulimari village, near the town of Dhing in her home state of Assam to Ronjit Das and Jonali Das.[10] Her parents are farmers by profession. She is the youngest of five siblings.[11] She completed early education from Dhing Public High School. She used to play football and had always wanted to pursue a career in football. However, she did not see any prospects for herself in the women's football in India.
At one of the inter-school camps held at the nearby Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), she would arrive at the ground before practise began, and sometimes even before the gates were opened. A physical education teacher at the Vidyalaya was impressed by her determination and punctuality. He later convinced her to pursue a career in sprinting.[12]
Das passed her 12th board exams in May 2019.[13] She is currently pursuing her B.A degree in Cotton University, Assam.[14]
Career
In April 2018, Das competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia, in the 400 metres and the 4×400 metres relay.[3][15]
On 12 July 2018, Das won the 400 m final at the World U-20 Championships 2018 held at Tampere, Finland, clocking 51.46 seconds and becoming the first Indian sprinter to win a gold medal at an international track event.[16]
At the 2018 Asian Games, Das qualified for the 400 m final, after clocking 51.00 in heat 1 and setting a new Indian national record.[17] On 26 August 2018 she improved the national record to 50.79 s in the 400 m final however she could win only the silver medal.[18] Later on 30 August 2018, she, along with M. R. Poovamma, Sarita Gayakwad and V. K. Vismaya won the women's 4 × 400 metres relay clocking 3:28.72. Hima also won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m mixed relay, which was held for the first time at Asian Games.[19]
Das continued her success in 2019 winning the 200m gold in Poznan Grand Prix in Poland, on 2 July 2019, with a time of 23.65 seconds.[20][21]
On 13 July, she won the 200m at the Kladno Meet in the Czech Republic with a time of 23.43 seconds.[22][23]
On 20 July 2019, she achieved her third win in a month, and fifth win, in the 400-meters in Nové Město, Czech Republic in a time of 52.09 seconds.[24]
She was named for the World Championships to be held at Doha in October 2019. However a month before, she was ruled out of participation due to a back problem, that had started right after she competed at the Asian games the previous year.[25]
On 27 February 2021, Das enrolled as a civil servant in the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police of Assam Police Service cadre through Assam Public Service Commission Direct Entry.[26]
