India’s Hima Das created history by winning the gold medal in the women’s 400 metre event at the IAAF World U20 Championships on Thursday.
Hima registered a time of 51.46 seconds in the final at the Ratina Stadium to become the first Indian athlete to win gold in a world championship across all age groups.
SHE DID IT! SHE HAS WRITTEN HISTORY IN 51.46 SECONDS!! #HimaDas of #India wins FIRST EVER TRACK GOLD MEDAL IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in WOMEN-400m #iaaftampere2018 in #Finland
Well done champion!! #Assam@narendramodi @sebcoe @sarbanandsonwal @Adille1 @Naveen_Odisha pic.twitter.com/pmcjSNfT6Y— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) July 12, 2018
Andrea Miklos of Romania took silver with a personal best time of 52.07 seconds. Taylor Manson of the US registered 52.28 seconds to finish third.
Hima had done well in the earlier rounds as well, winning Heat 4 with a time of 52.25 seconds. She emerged on top in the semi-finals as well, winning her race in 52.10 seconds.
Jisna Matthew, the other Indian in the fray, also showed early promise, winning Heat 5 with a time of 54.32 seconds. But the Kerala girl crashed out in the semi-finals, where she finished fifth with 53.86 seconds.
Wow! So proud of you Hima Das. Incredible, historic achievement on becoming the first Indian track athlete to win a medal at any global event winning Gold at women's 400m World U-20 Championships clocking a time of 51.47 seconds. Thank you for the happiness. pic.twitter.com/Cs5wY8sDuM
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 12, 2018
Hima Das!! What a champion!! Congratulations. You make India proud 👏👏👏 U-20 400m World Champion pic.twitter.com/W4wyCHH4UL
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) July 12, 2018
Congratulations to our sensational sprint star Hima Das for winning the 400m gold in the World Under-20 Championship. This is India’s first ever track gold in a World Championship. A very proud moment for Assam and India, Hima; now the Olympic podium beckons! #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 12, 2018
The Quint
