In the world of sports, there are inspirational stories that shine more brilliantly than any trophy. One such tale that motivates people all across the world is the tale of Hima Das, the Indian “Dhing Express”. She defied the odds and demonstrated that dreams can come true with unrelenting hard work and dedication. She was born amid the lush meadows of Assam.

Early Life

On January 9, 2000, Hima Das was born in the Indian state of Assam’s small town of Kandhulimari in the Nagaon district. She came from a poor farming family where the cultivation of rice and other crops dominated the daily schedule. Unbeknownst to the world, a future sports star was developing among these vast rice fields.

Since she was little, she has consistently enjoyed playing football with males, which demonstrates her independent and tenacious attitude. She was never prevented from fulfilling her aspirations by gender-specific expectations. She was determined to pursue a career in football because of her interest in the sport. She did not, however, have the motivation necessary to join the Indian Women’s Football squad. She went to jawahar navodaya vidyalaya for her education. Nippon Das, her physical education instructor, observed her talent and advised her to train for sprint running. She began her running career in this manner.

Facing Obstacles

Her family’s financial situation was never favourable. Her family struggled greatly to support her profession because of this. She competed in the district-level 100-metre and 200-metre races, and to the complete shock of her coach, she won both events by earning gold. In the beginning of her running career, the coach didn’t anticipate such an outstanding result. She also didn’t have the right running shoes for the race, so she wore a pair of cheap shoes and still came in first. This incident demonstrates her level of tenacity from the beginning. The coach agreed to cover all of her costs for continued participation in the next events. 

Since her career had already advanced, no amount of difficulty or difficulty could stop her. She continued to make progress toward her goals at a faster rate. Inspirational is the situation from which she arose and succeeded in reaching such lofty heights.

The beginning of her career is regarded as the most challenging because she was unable to practise and hone her running techniques on a real racing track; instead, she made use of the only choice that was accessible to her—the uneven, muddy football field. Additionally, she was not permitted to use any professional training facilities or services. Nevertheless, because of her ability, she won a bronze medal in the first 100-metre event at the state meet. She advanced to the Junior National Championships final over time.

Turning Point

This teenage athlete caught the attention of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) in 2017 when she excelled in the U-18 Nationals, Asian, and World Youth Championships. She was chosen by the Federation to attend the senior national camp. The coaches decided to train her for a 400-metre sprint that would take her to the international zone as a result. With the help of her coaches’ advice, instruction, and support, that begins her path to international success.

When Hima won the gold medal in the 400-metre race at the 2018 World U-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, it was a turning point in her life. She became the first Indian woman to win a track gold at a global competition thanks to her illustrious victory. It was an accomplishment that not just her family, community, and country as a whole were proud of.

Hima continued to set records and make history as her ascent to fame accelerated. She earned a spot on the international arena thanks to her extraordinary speed, tenacity, and unrelenting enthusiasm. She competed for India in a number of events, such as the Asian Games and the World Championships, and she took home multiple medals. Her accomplishments made her a national hero and a source of inspiration for India’s budding athletes.

Hima had set a new record for the 400-metre individual event with a time of 51 seconds. At the 2018 Asian Games, she accomplished this accomplishment during the heats.

Appreciation received 

Even Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan and other athletes like PT Usha hailed her for her effort and praised her for her amazing accomplishments. Expectations of her kept increasing, but Hima Das always managed to meet them. She once more made incredible history by setting a 400-metre race record of 51 seconds, which qualified her for the finals. She continued on and broke her personal record by completing the race in 50 seconds, earning silver for the nation. She continued to make the country proud with other accomplishments that came one after another. Arokia Rajiv, MR Poovama, and Muhammed Anas won the 4×100-metre mixed relay, which was one of their victories.

Inspiring Generations

Hima Das’s golden month in 2019 was February since she achieved a lot of achievements quickly. However, there was a minor hiccup while she was working on the Tokyo Olympics preparations. She had a back problem that forced her to rest for a few months and prevented her from taking part in any running events. But beginning in July, she resumed her normal activities following her recovery. She won five straight 200 metre gold medals in just one month. The first accomplishment happened at the Polish Poznan Athletics Grand Prix. The Mezinarodni Atleticky Miting saw the winning of the sixth gold medal. Hima Das felt more motivated to compete after the injury thanks to these successes.

Hima Das has demonstrated excellence both on and off the track. She has utilised her notoriety and power to encourage young people in India to follow their aspirations, no matter how difficult the road may seem. Her narrative is a monument to the strength of perseverance, hard effort, and self-belief.

Final Thoughts

The story of Hima Das from the Assamese fields to international podiums is inspiring and uplifts the spirit. It serves as a reminder that greatness may come from the unlikeliest of sources and that hardship can be faced head-on with unyielding resolve.

The “Dhing Express,” Hima Das, has not only shattered records; she has also broken down barriers and demonstrated to the world that no goal is too huge and no challenge too overwhelming. Her extraordinary path serves as a beacon of hope, encouraging other people to pursue their own goals. Her legacy as a sporting hero will continue to uplift future generations.