Reports: Hima Das out of Athletics World Championship?

India might have already begun labelling her as the brightest prospect to have emerged in Indian athletics, but a cloud of uncertainty is now hovering over Hima Das’ participation at the Athletics World Championship. In fact, reports suggest that the 19-year-old sprinter has now been ruled out of the World Athletics Championship to be held in Doha later this month, as she has been grappling with injuries of late. Though the athlete from Assam failed to qualify in her pet event of 400m for the World Athletics Championships, she was named as 4x400m relay runner in India’s 25-member squad on September 9. She was also supposed to participate in the 4×400 mixed relay.

Fresh reports of Hima's exclusion from the Indian squad is likely to raise a number of intriguing questions about athletes’ fitness ahead of marquee events like the Doha World Championship, especially at a time when the Tokyo Olympics is less than a year away. The uncertainty of her participation in the 4x400m relay event - both women’s and mixed - in the world event gained weight not very long ago. Her absence could be a staggering blow to India’s chances in pursuit of glory in the world of athletics. It is, however, doubtful if Hima would be able to qualify for the next Olympics, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2020. 

Hima achieved her season-best timing of 52.09s to win the 400m gold in the Czech Republic, only to be forced to pull out of the event due to injury, in April this year. She recorded her personal best of 50.79s at the Jakarta Asian Games, which brought her closer to the limelight. For Hima, the journey has not entirely been a bed of roses. Her recent feat of six gold medals added a little significance, for her performances ran short of expectations ahead of the 4x400m World Championship event. Hima, since the Federation Cup held earlier this year, has been fielded in only two individual 400m race events but her timings haven't been appealing for she needed to go under 52 seconds.