Sprinter Hima Das says she is not worried about having to qualify for the Tokyo olympics. She feels she can make it to her maiden Games once the international season resumes. The season is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reigning junior world champion in 400m is yet to qualify for the postponed Tokyo Olympics. The international season has been suspended till November 30 due the on-going coronavirus pandemic.
“I am not worried about it (Olympics qualification), it will only create tension. There is a year still to go for the Olympics. Let us first pray that this pandemic ends quickly,” Hima said.
The 20-year-old Hima, known as “Dhing Express”, had become the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in a World Championship (World Junior Championships in Finland). She holds the national record (50.79 seconds) in 400m.
Hima won a silver in the individual 400m race in the 2018 Asian Games. However, she suffered a back injury during the race in the Asian Games and she pulled out midway the individual 400m race in the Asian Championships in Doha in April last year. She was later dropped from the team for World Championships.
The injury has led to speculation that she may have to switch to 200m from 400 m. When she was asked about this, she said, “I am recovering (from the injury). I will do whatever is decided by my coach and the AFI. They will decide it.”
Hima won six low-grade races in Poland and Czech Republic in July and August last year, post the treatment of her injured back. However, she ran only one 400 m race the whole of last year. Four out of five other wins came in 200 m.