Guwahati: Assamese sprinter Hima Das has been offered the post of deputy superintendent in Assam Police by the BJP led State government in Dispur. The cabinet meeting, chaired by State chief minister Sarbanand Sonowal, at Janata Bhawan on Wednesday decided to appoint the ace sprinter as a DSP. The council of ministers (CoM) also amended the integrated sports policy for appointing sportspersons in various departments.
“The CoM approved an amendment to the Integrated Sports Policy for the State providing for appointment to medal winners of Olympics, Asian Games, CWG (Class 1) and medal winners of World Championship senior (class 2) officers,” said a Twitter message of CM Sonowal. Meanwhile, the Union youth affairs and sports minister Kiren Rijiju today lauded Assam government led by Sonowal for its decision to appoint Ms Hima in a senior post of State police. He also added that the Dhing Express would continue running for India.
Even though sportspersons are employed in different sectors they continue to play, said Rijiju in a Twitter message adding that many elite athletes are now employed with government assignments, but they are still playing. Even after their retirements, those personalities continue engaging the mission for promoting sports across the
country, he pointed out.
Arjuna awardee Ms Hima is now preparing for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics qualification at Patiala based Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports. Reacting to the news, the 21-year-old sprinter commented that it was a huge motivation for her. “I look forward to being of service to my State and my nation,” said Hima who became the second athlete from Assam (after Bhogeswar Baruah) to win a gold medal in an international event. She also appeared in an episode of the popular television reality shows Kaun Banega Crorepati, anchored by Amitabh Bachchan, two years back.
Hailing from a remote village in Dhing locality of Nagaon district, Ms Hima initially was interested in playing football and she even played the energetic game with boys in her school days. Later the youngest daughter of the farmer-parents shifted to the tracks. She passed the 12th standard board exams in 2019.
Ms Hima won her first medal in 100 meter race in a junior national championship held in Assam. Soon she grabbed a gold in 400 m race in IAAF World U20 Championships in Finland. Later she won the silver in 400 m of 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Next year, she won gold medals in 200 m of Poznan Athletics Grand Prix (Poland), Kutno Athletics
Meet, Kladno Athletics Meet (Czech Republic), etc.
