India's young sprinter Hima Das revealed on Friday that she "did not tell" her parents that she was taking part in the IAAF U-20 World Championship in Finland, an event that saw her script history.
In July, 18-year-old Hima scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships as she clinched top spot in the women's 400m final race on the third day of competitions.
I did not tell my parents that I was playing such a big tournament. I told them that it was a small game. My parents saw it on television. After I reached the room and called my father, he said ‘I was going to sleep’. I said, I became world champion and you are sleeping, to which my dad said, let’s see in the morning.Hima Das
Apart from winning the gold medal at the in Finland, Hima claimed three medals, including a gold, at the Asian Games. She acknowledged that the road ahead will be difficult.
"It will be a challenge, and I will have to train well. It will be a little tough," she said.
Hima said that post her success, her village in Assam has got new roads and lights.
"There are changes which I noticed, there is a new road and lights have come up in the village," she said.