HIMA Das, India’s Star Sprinter, Will Be Rewarded INR 1.60 Cr

Assam government has announced reward of  INR 1.60 crore to sprint sensation Hima Das for her outstanding performances in the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships at Tampere, Finland ,and the recently concluded 18th Asian Games in Indonesia. Hima, 18, daughter of poor farmers, specialises in the 400 m distance. She has become the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in a track event at the IAAF World U20 Championships. The same year she won an individual silver medal at the Asian Games, setting a new national record. She competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 400 metres and the 4×400 metres relay. In the 400 metres, she qualified for the final where she finished sixth in a time of 51.32 seconds. At the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships Das became the first Indian sprinter to win a gold medal at a world meet. Having run a slower first half, Das accelerated on the last 100 meter stretch overtaking three competitors en route to the gold medal.A felicitation function will be organised at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra at Guwahati by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam.Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will be the chief guest. Hima will be rewarded Rs 50 lakh for each of her gold medals and Rs 30 lakh each for the silver medals.