Hima Das was so desperate to improve that she always wanted to run with boys, reveals Nipon Das

Hima Das was so desperate to improve that she always wanted to run with boys, reveals Nipon Das

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Nipon Das, Hima Das' coach, has revealed that in order to improve her timing Hima used to run with boys and would do everything to improve her timings. He appreciated the hard work she used to put in and revealed that Hima always told him that she doesn’t run after medals, she runs after the clock.

Hima Das, who recently scripted history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win the gold medal in track in a World Championship, has suddenly become the talk of the town. While the athlete deserves all the praise, credit should also go to her coach Nipon Das, who had got her to Guwahati in January 2017 so that she could train at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium. Nipon stated that Hima stood out from the crowd even on the first occasions that he saw her. He revealed that Hima always preferred to practice with boys to better her performance.

"She has been different than others ever since I first spotted her - very disciplined and determined. Normally when a girl starts to train with the boys, they tend to improve their performance level. And Hima was so desperate to improve that she always wanted to run with the boys. She would do anything to better her timing,” Nipon Das told TOI on Monday.

Before taking to athletics seriously, Hima played football in the neighbourhood in Dhing, a small area in Assam's Nagaon district. She used to overpower even senior boys to score goals. Nipon pointed out that the hard work put in by Hima separates her from others. He revealed that Hima always used to tell him that she doesn’t run for the medals, she runs after the clock. 

"No doubt, she is gifted. But at the same time she works so hard which makes her different from others. In her very first attempt at running 400m, she clocked 57 seconds and then I realized that I was working with a champion. She always tells me she doesn't run after medals, she runs after the clock. As a coach, people harboured a lot of expectations from me to scout talented athletes and polish them to become champions. Thanks to Hima's feat, she has helped me achieve my dream," added Nipon. 

After her father Ranjit Das agreed to send Hima to Guwahati for training in 2017, Nipon arranged for her stay near Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium where she started getting basic training.

"Though I met her during the state level meet in 2016 in Sivsagar, I could identify her talent only in January 2017, during a coaching camp in Guwahati. I found her to be a bright prospect after watching her movements and way of doing things. After that...she kept on improving in every tournament," he added.

With the Asian Games to be held in August, the coach was hopeful of a better performance from Hima.

"I've high expectations from her and I'm pretty sure she will accomplish all my dreams," said Nipon. 

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