From a country fast getting addicted to T20 cricket and which rarely aspires to excel in global sports come stories defying logic. Hima Das’s run to gold in the 400 metres race at the World Under-20 Athletics Championship does not just exceed expectations, it makes a mockery of theories. Spotted as a raw talent in the village of Dhing in central Assam, she did not even know how running shoes looked two years ago.
Her parents agreed to send her to a training centre in the state capital because coaches there assured their daughter two square meals a day. Emerging best in a competition that might produce Olympic champions in a few years from this background is miraculous.
Before going further, let us get it clear that transition from junior to senior levels is one of the toughest challenges across sports. The gulf is huge and not many winners at this level make it big later. The first Indian to win a medal in world junior athletics, Seema Antil in 2002, has not come anywhere near medals at the top level.
The second, Neeraj Chopra in 2016, has shifted base abroad to pursue his goals. Considering Hima’s background and potential, grooming her becomes the responsibility of the Athletics Federation of India and Sports Authority of India. Success at the highest level is a product of teamwork and people around Hima must make sure she gets a good team to work with.
Authorities should also look into tapping talent in the hinterlands. Boxer Mary Kom, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and gymnast Dipa Karmakar are some of the prominent names from the Northeast who shone on the big stage despite lacking proper facilities or guidance in their formative years.
Hima is the latest to show sportspersons from this region have the physical and mental attributes to overcome other shortcomings. Instead of basking in her glory and organising felicitations, officials in charge of developing sports should conduct regular scouting programmes and set up centres to take care of the talent. In other words, Hima should be a beginning.