Athlete Hima Das appointed first Youth Ambassador of UNICEF India

India’s ace sprinter and Asian Games gold-medallist sprinter Hima Das was appointed as first ever youth ambassador of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India. UNICEF India works with central government to ensure that each child born in country gets best start in life, thrives and develops to his or her full potential.

Hima Das

She was born 9 January 2000 at Kandhulimari village near Dhing Town of Nagaon district, Assam. Her parents are rice farmers. She was the first Indian athlete to win gold medal in track event at IAAF World U20 Championships held in Tampere, Finland. In 2018 Asian Games (Jakarta), she had won silver medal in 400 m final to win a silver medal. She is nicknamed ‘Dhing Express’ after her village in Assam. In September 2018, she was appointed as Sports Ambassador of Assam to inspire budding players of northeastern state to aim big and young generation to take up sports seriously. She is also working with Indian Oil Corporation in Guwahati as HR officer.
Medals won in 2018 Asian Games

• Gold medal: Women’s 4 × 400 metres relay along with M. R. Poovamma, Sarita Gayakwad and V. K. Vismaya.
• Silver medal: Mixed4 × 400 metres relay along with Muhammed Anas, M. R. Poovamma and Arokia Rajiv.
• Silver medal: Women’s 400 m individual race (time: 50.79). She had set national record by clocking 51.00 to qualify for the 400 metre final.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2018