Hima Das - the golden girl from Assam - who recently scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in a track event at a global event, broke down in tears after talking to her family after the win. In an interview with The Times of India, her father Ranjit Das said: "I told her that we were all awake to watch her run on television and she cried."
The 18-year-old athlete from Nagaon district in Assam, known as 'Dhing Express' after the name of her village, has also in the past shown virtues of being conscious of her social duties and responsibilities. This was exemplified by her leading the protests for the ouster of country liquor shops in and around her village.
“The girl has the guts to do anything and everything. She is never afraid to speak out against illegal things": a neighbour told TOI.
Meanwhile, a video of an emotional Hima on the winning podium after the Gold-medal-win is doing the rounds on social media. In the clip, tears can be seen rolling down on the teenager's cheeks while her country's national anthem plays in the background. From the President of India to fans on Twitter, everyone seems in awe of Das after watching the clip.
No woman before Das had won a gold medal in a World Championship at any level, be it youth, junior or senior.
(With PTI Inputs)