NEW DELHI: Indian athlete Hima Das shot to instant stardom at just 18 years of age when she won a medal at the U-20 World Championship in 2018.
She became the talk of the town, was tagged the next queen of Indian athletics -- some even said the next PT Usha.
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Hima bagged as many as three medals - golds in the women's 4x400m relay and the mixed 4x400m relay and an individual silver in the women's 400m event.
But over the last couple of years, Hima had to wage a battle on multiple fronts - injuries, which also saw her miss the flight to Tokyo for the last edition of the Olympics and also a very bad bout of COVID-19, during which she thought she might not survive.
Things began to fall apart, and it took months before she felt normal again post-Covid. Slowly, normalcy returned to her life on and off the track.
But now the 22-year-old 'Dhing Express', after a few training camps, including one in Turkey, is raring to go and eyeing Commonwealth Games glory on the tracks of Birmingham, as part of India's 4x100m women's relay team at the 2022 CWG.
Hima spoke about her past, present, and possible future in a special chat with Timesofindia.com.
The Commonwealth Games are just around the corner now. How well prepared would you say you are?
I am training really hard. Training is currently in full swing. I was in Chennai. I had to wait there for some time because of the visa process (for Birmingham). We all have gathered here in Trivandrum. We are preparing for the baton relay. I am sure you will see a good performance from us in the Commonwealth Games. Our team is a strong one. After a long time we have got a strong team. Everyone is pumped up and raring to go.
Would you say there is a good chance of India winning a medal in the women's 4x100m relay at the CWG this time?
Yes definitely. This is my second Commonwealth Games. First, the fight was to qualify for the CWG and now that we have, our next target is to win a medal. I am sure we will give our best.
(Photo: Hima Das Twitter)
You had a tough time after you tested positive for COVID-19...
Everyone has been asking about Covid. Not just me, everyone went through a tough phase. We couldn't hit the training ground. I suffered from Covid-19 as well. It was really bad. I would put it like this - Covid defeated an athlete. It was really tough for everyone. I thought I would die. I was adamant though that I have to recover. The infection shattered me mentally and physically. Around 2 am one morning, I almost gave up and I thought I would die. I thought I was breathing for the last time. I was in Patiala. I kept my room's door open at night so that no one would have to break it down to get to me. I thought if I died, at least no one would have to break the door down to get in. It was an emotional day for me. I am sharing all this so that people know what an athlete's struggles are like. Next day, I tweeted about it too. People showered their blessings on me. I got a call from the Prime Minister's office. I got a message from Kiren Rijiju sir. They all motivated me. When I got my sense of taste and smell back, I was really happy. I ate a lot of food and fruits then.
In 2018, you created history in Finland by winning a gold in the U-20 World Championships. How would you say did your life change after that?
I didn't expect a medal there. I didn't go there with the aim of winning a medal. I went there for practice. I got a call from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) that I have to compete in that tournament in order to prepare for the Asian Games. I wanted to test myself. I went, performed, and won a medal for India. My life changed after that. I was 18 then. That medal gave me a lot of motivation. people came out in huge numbers to welcome me at the Guwahati airport. The feeling was surreal.
(Photo: @sarbanandsonwal Twitter)
You missed out on the Tokyo Olympics. What is your level of confidence about making it to the Paris Olympics in 2024?
I am 100 percent confident that I will go to Paris in 2024. The situation and conditions of 2021 were very different. I hope that doesn't come around again. I am sure I will have a good time in Paris. I will make everyone proud.
You once again made a switch to sprints...
I was a sprinter earlier. I started off with 100m, 200m, and then a long jump. In 2017, when I hit the camp, then I did the 400m. I was questioned at that time too about why I was switching to 400m from 200m. I proved everyone wrong with my performance. The reason behind switching was my back injury and hamstring. Injury is a part and parcel of an athlete's life and I accept that. I can get injured tomorrow as well. In the 400m event, my speed increases in the end. I wasn't able to do that properly earlier. AFI decided that I should go back to sprint, my old event. I performed really well in Chennai in the 100m. It wasn't that difficult for me.
Can you tell us something about your meeting with Sachin Tendulkar a few years back?
I met Sachin sir in 2018. He called me to his place. My friend Rani Rampal and I went to meet him. I spoke to him on a number of topics. When I won medals in European countries, Sachin sir called and spoke to me at that time also. I am hopeful that he will again speak to me ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Is Hima aiming for gold at the CWG?
Yes. You can expect that. Please pray for us. I am sure we will return with a medal.
