Reports | Hima Das to step down from individual events at World C’ships
India’s ace sprinter Hima Das would reportedly not be participating in the individual events at the World Championships with federation focusing more on the success of 4x400m relay. It was also reported that she is suffering from a back injury but those claims were refuted by the national coach.
India have possibly got a double injury blow with less than a month to go for the Doha World Championships. After star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had already pulled out with an elbow surgery, Hima Das could also be on her way out.
However, there have been doubts over her injury with the Athletics Federation of India and national coach Radhakrishnan Nair has had contradicting claims to her fitness. But, her not participating in the individual events seemed for sure as the federation has been zooming in to get a berth into the Tokyo Olympics through Doha.
“There will be no more competitions for the women quartermilers. They are all in the loading phase and will not participate any more till the Worlds,” an AFI official confirmed, reported Sportstar.
It is hinting to the fact that India’s best track star and the foremost quartermiler at the moment won’t be participating in the 400m in Tokyo, for she is running out of events to qualify at the extravaganza next year. To further exacerbate her situation rumours of her injuries have only increased.
“Yes there is a back problem, specially during long training sessions, but we need to assess the extent of it. It is not a new injury, though, as is being said. Also, there is no spondylitis as reported, which is an inflammation of the vertebra. What Hima has is spondylolysis, which is a degenerative stress fracture and needs more rehab than anything else,” the official further added.
In that case, Hima would hardly be able to participate in the 4x400m relays as well, although national coach Nair sounded more assured than ever on her fitness. “She ran the 400m as recently as August 24 in Czech Republic (she timed a disappointing 53.07s) and before that in July also. I refute any injury concerns,” said Nair, reported Sportstar.
“The reason we are not looking at her participating or trying to qualify for individual event is because we are trying to actually get a medal in the relays, specially the mixed event. Our main target is to finish in the top-eight in relays at Doha so that we don’t have to run around for Tokyo qualifications for the next year. That is priority and we want her at her best for them,” he added.
Hima could run only two 400m races since the Federation Cup in March apart from pulling out of the Asian Championships, and she hasn’t gone under 52 seconds either. And despite going on a gold spree in Europe over the last two months, her timings in the event has been average at best with the federation not very confident about her success in Doha.
“Even if she manages to do so, there is little or no chance of her managing to cross the preliminary stage even. In such a scenario, there is little sense in trying to load her with an extra event,” they remarked.
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