In the women’s 400-meter final race on the third day of competitions here, Hima Das made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships.
Pre-tournament favorite 18-year-old Das ran 51.46 seconds to take home the gold. She now joins the esteemed company of renowned javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who achieved a world record effort to win a gold medal in Poland in the most recent competition in 2016. In fact, Das is the first Indian track athlete in this competition’s history to take home a medal.
On the third day of events here, Hima Das wrote history when she won the women’s 400m final race, becoming the first Indian woman to do so in the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships. Das, who was running in lane number four, was behind Romania’s Andrea Miklos at the finish line curve but put on an incredible effort in the last straightaway to cross the line much ahead of the competitors and win gold. Taylor Manson of the United States finished third in 52.28 seconds, while Miklos took silver. “Winning gold at the World Junior Championships fills me with joy. I’d like to thank all of the Indians who helped me both here and back home. Having this kind of support was quite encouraging,” Hima said after the marathon.
Das, who was the pre-tournament favorite at the age of 18, finished first in 51.46 seconds. She currently competes with legendary javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who set a world record to win gold in Poland in the most recent competition in 2016. In fact, Das is the first Indian track athlete to ever take home a medal in this event.
