Former junior world champion Hima Das will not compete in the Asian Games in China later this year owing to an injury. The development was confirmed by India's head athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair, who made the announcement on Wednesday. Hima suffered a hamstring injury in April, and doctors anticipate that it will keep the talented sprinter sidelined for a few more months.
Hima Das has experienced back pain in addition to the hamstring problem, according to Radhakrishnan Nair further pushing her out of the event. The postponed Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8 this year.
The 23-year-old won the 400m silver at the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018 and became a household name. Das also competed for India's 4x400 mixed relay team, which took first place in the continental championships and won the gold medal. She narrowly missed qualifying for the 200-meter final at the Commonwealth Games last year.
''It is unfortunate she (Hima) was injured a day before the Indian Grand Prix IV in Bengaluru (on April 15). She pulled a hamstring and also had a back problem. Now, a medical investigation is going on and planning for treatment. I believe that she will not be able to participate in the Asian Games as per the policy of the AFI,'' Nair said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Hima was injured last month and was unable to compete in the Federation Cup in Ranchi. Despite the injury, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had anticipated that she would be able to compete in the National Inter-State Championship, which gets underway on June 15 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar. The competition will also serve as the Indian track and field athletes' last opportunity to qualify for the Asian Games.
