Dubai: Hima Das, an 18-year-old from the Indian state of Assam, made history as the first Indian track athlete to become a world champion. Das won a gold at the 400 metre final in Finland, at Tampere’s World U20 Championships. On July 12, the International Association of Athletics Federation tweeted through their official Twitter account @iaaforg: BOOM! What a display from HIMA DAS! India’s own brings home the gold from Tampere after clocking a huge 51.46-400m, defeating Miklos [Romania] (52.07) and Manson [US] (52.28).”
BOOM! 💥
— IAAF (@iaaforg) July 12, 2018
What a display from HIMA DAS! 🇮🇳😲
India’s own brings home the gold 🥇 from Tampere 🇫🇮 after clocking a huge 51.46-400m, defeating 🥈 Miklos 🇷🇴 (52.07) & 🥉 Manson 🇺🇸 (52.28)!#IAAFworlds pic.twitter.com/vN4VopL5J1
Her historic win was welcomed by Indians with an outpour of congratulatory messages on social media lauding her. Many including prominent actors and sports people shared messages for Das.
Indian politician @RahulGandhi posted a video: “In the video below, you will see what makes Hima Das, Gold medallist at the world under-20 Athletics Championship, in Finland, so special! This is India’s first ever Gold in a track event at a world championship. I salute her achievement & congratulate her on her historic win.”
In the video below, you will see what makes Hima Das, Gold medalist at the world under-20 Athletics Championship, in Finland, so special!
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 13, 2018
This is India’s first ever Gold in a track event at a world championship.
I salute her achievement & congratulate her on her historic win. pic.twitter.com/N4q62mVecM
Actress @ReallySwara posted: “SO SO SO many congratulations to #HimaDas You made us all so proud! #india #girlpower”
SO SO SO many congratulations to #HimaDas You made us all so proud!!!! #india #girlpower 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/p6SjyS1qAV
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) July 13, 2018
And, Indian football team captain Sunil Chetri (@chetrisunil11) tweeted: “The biggest positive to come out of what Hima Das has achieved isn’t the medal, it’s the hope that India can. Take a bow, champion!”
The biggest positive to come out of what Hima Das has achieved isn't the medal, it's the hope that India can. Take a bow, champion!
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) July 13, 2018
Tweep @theskindoctor13 posted: “Hima Das created history, became the FIRST EVER Indian to win a gold at a World level track event. She clocked 51.46 sec for 400m. 95 per cent of Indian men (including me) can’t match that speed. A brilliant message for all those who think or say that women are physically weaker sex.”
Hima Das created history, became the FIRST EVER Indian to win a gold at a World level track event. She clocked 51.46 sec for 400m.
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) July 13, 2018
95% of Indian men (including me) can't match that speed. A brilliant message for all those who think/ say that women are physically weaker sex.
Twitter user @Bhayankur proudly posted: “‘India’s never won a medal at the track events’, screams the commentator ‘But Das has done it here...’, he adds. What an achievement Hima Das! Gold medal!”
“India’s never won a medal at the track events”, screams the commentator
— Ankur Bhardwaj (@Bhayankur) July 13, 2018
“But Das has done it here..” he adds
What an achievement Hima Das! Gold medal! pic.twitter.com/jmXEWQ8SgD