"VAN" (Sports Desk) :: After her fourth gold medal in 15 days, Hima Das has already been crowned the golden girl of India’s track and field.
It is a rare occurrence for an Indian athlete to be in such top form and be so consistent in track and field. The internet is abuzz with congratulatory messages and expectations of how India’s search for their maiden medal at the track and field events in the Olympics could be over.
Hima’s ‘golden run’ started on 2 July when she won 200m Gold in Poznan Athletics Grand Prix in Poland. Five days later on 7 July, she won 200m gold at the Kutno Athletics Meet, again in Poland. Next week on 13 July she won her third Gold at the Kladno Athletics Meet in the Czech Republic. Her fourth gold came on Tuesday, 16 July in the 200m race at the Tabor Athletics Meet, also in the Czech Republic.
However, a look at her timings should temper those expectations a little.
So, the best Hima could manage at these events was 23.25 seconds.
Earlier this year in March, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) released the qualifying standards for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and according to it the qualification timing for 200m is 22.80 seconds.
Although it doesn’t demean Hima’s achievement, it is a reality check for fans whose expectations are skyrocketing with every passing day.
So, clearly the Olympics is still a distant dream.
Among her competitors from her most recent conquest in Tabor, the three most experienced ones were no match for Hima on current form.
Her previous three events weren’t much different.
However, Hima is just doing everything right to move towards her ultimate goal. She is training hard, competing and winning all her races. And we all know that winning is a good habit.
As a result if tomorrow Hima Das doesn’t qualify for the Olympics, all hell could break loose.
We certainly don’t want that.
The fans should be realistic with their expectations which in turn will also help Hima have her feet on the ground, and closer to her Olympics dream.
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