Hima Das: Cannot assess my performance without playing any competition

Published at :July 28, 2020 at 1:13 AM

Modified at :July 28, 2020 at 6:05 PM

The sprint prodigy spoke about her injury and return to fitness.

Indian track athlete Hima Das spoke to TOI in a chat about her time during the lockdown. Das is currently at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala since last December where she has been working on recuperating from a straining back injury suffered in April while participating in the 2019 Asian Championships in Qatar.

While the team won silver which was eventually elevated to gold, Das has seen her abilities be curtailed by the bugging injury and has been working ever hard on getting back to full fitness. For her though, the lockdown couldn't have come at a better time with the Tokyo Olympics also having been postponed to next year which has opened a wider window for the "Dhing Express".

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Speaking of returning back to the running fold, Das replied "Everyone gets injured, it's part of a sportsperson's life. The coach and the federation will take the decision and I will follow that. I have reached here only because of the (efforts of the) federation and coach. So give me whichever event, I just want to run and qualify for the Olympics."

"Right now I am focusing a lot on physiotherapy, it's helping my body. It's basically core exercises and physiotherapy that I am paying more attention to presently. The federation will definitely plan for something it depends on the COVID-19 situation. Olympics have been postponed by a year but whether that will still happen or not, nobody knows," Hima further added.

Preparing for the poster event next summer, Hima is yet to surpass the qualifying mark of 22.8 seconds for the 200m. When asked about her take on the recuperation and her performance, Hima replied, "How can I talk about my personal assessment when there is no competition happening. Without that and having come out of my room after two months (of lockdown), it will take time. Once I compete in a competition or two, only then can I answer this."

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