NEW DELHI, July 13 - President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed Hima Das who created history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a gold at an IAAF event.
Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also hailed the performance of Das.
�Congratulations to our sensational sprint star Hima Das for winning the 400m gold in the World Under-20 (in Finland). A very proud moment for Assam and India, Hima; now the Olympic podium beckons,� the President said in a tweet.
Modi tweeted: �This accomplishment will certainly inspire young athletes in the coming years.�
Governor Prof Mukhi said: �Hima Das has made the country proud. She is a source of motivation and inspiration to other young athletes who can emulate her achievement to scale new height in life.� The Governor also wished her the very best for all her future endeavours.
Appreciating the remarkable achievement, Chief Minister Sonowal said: �I salute Hima Das for her outstanding achievement. Whatever she has achieved is remarkable. We are proud of her,� he said.
Sonowal said that she is highly talented and the country is proud of her achievement. �She will bring more laurels to the country in near future�, he told a TV channel.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also hailed Hima Das. �Hima Das the nation is so proud of you. My congratulations to you for your under-20 win in Finland. Your historic achievement of winning India�s first ever track athletics world title will inspire girls to believe that nothing is impossible,� Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle.
Daughter of a paddy farmer from Dhing village in Nagaon district, Das shone in the field comprising runners from the US and Jamaica in Tampere�s Ratina Stadium on Thursday. She became the first Indian athlete to win gold in a world championship across all age groups.
Hima did well even in the earlier rounds � winning Heat 4 with a time of 52.25 seconds. She emerged on top in the semifinals winning her race in 52.10 seconds.
Das was slow at the start of the final. However, her blazing run in the final 80m saw her clocking 51.46 seconds. � Agencies
