GUWAHATI, Sept 8 - �Please pray for my good health and leave everything else on me, I will try my level best to earn laurels for my country as well as the State�, said �Dhing Express� Hima Das while interacting with the media.
Hima, who reached her home State yesterday after scintillating performances in the IAAF U-20 Championship in Finland and Jakarta Asian Games was interacting with the media at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here today.
�I would like to thank the people of Assam who rallied behind and prayed for me. I will remain specially grateful to my parents, coaches and mentors, among others, who were instrumental in helping me reach this position�, revealed Hima.
When asked about the energy burst which enabled her to accelerate in the last 60 to 70 metres during the 400m race which fetched her medals in the international events, the sturdy girl from Kandhulimari of Dhing in Nagaon district said, �I am still a learner. I don�t have much idea on running 400m yet. As per my coach�s advice, I try to put in maximum effort before reaching the finishing line and am able to win medals in the event�. On being questioned as to whether she will be able to finish 400m under 50 seconds?, she quipped: �As I am still learning, in the coming days I have to work hard under the guidance of my coach, who will set my schedule. Hopefully by the blessing of God, I will be able to do so,� she replied gently.
Further, �at present I am in the 52nd position in the world order in this event. In order to achieve Olympic standard, I still have to achieve a lot during the next two years. I will prepare for the 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay if the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) allows me.�
Although the State Government has offered a senior post to her in the Sports Department, she is at present not interested for a job, and will decide later.
Right now she is planning to visit her parents, family members and village at Kandhulimari on September 11.
After that, she will fulfil her assignment which she has with the sports management firm IOS Sports and Entertainment. The group signed Hima as their client and as part of the multi-crore two-year contract, IOS will manage all the commercial interests of the 19-year-old Assam girl.
After completing her assignment, Hima, who takes Lionel Messi and Sachin Tendulkar as her idols, will concentrate on her practice as per the schedule prepared by the IAF and her coach.
Member secretary of the State Level Advisory Committee for Students and Youth Welfare Lakhya Konwar, Director of Sports Pabitra Ram Khound, other officials Kalyani Talukdar, Queen Oja, coaches Nipon Das, Nabajit Malakar were also present during the interaction session.
