Hima Das, the Indian sprinter stayed away from the track for almost three months. This 21-year-old runner from Assam was disappointed after her failure in Tokyo Olympics. Ultimately the forced break and her coach’s encouragement has made Hima resume her career life.
Hima Das holds the current Indian national record in 400 meters with a timing of 50.79 s. She achieved it in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. She inconsistently switched 400 meters to the 100 and 200 metres and suffered a hamstring injury during the 100m heats. It derived her from the Tokkyo bid. Hima was in her good form as she scored 23.21s (22.80 Olympic qualification mark) to win the 200m title.
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Galina Bukharina was not confident
Coach Galina was quite satisfied with Hima’s Federation Cup results. But she knew that Hima couldn’t make the the cut for the Tokyo Games.
“Hima was not ready for this kind of result yet and she didn’t take her practice seriously. Her practice over the two years was like this: two days good, three days bad, and one day good, two days bad. She always found an explanation for her bad days. She didn’t try to push herself hard,” claimed Galina.
The Russian-American coach, in her 47 years experiences, felt that Hima tried to push herself to the limit .She put her effort to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics when she was not prepared for it. “She forgot that if you are not ready for 22 (seconds), mentally you won’t be able to push for 22. She tried to do that and that is why she got injured,” Galina says.
Galina helpes out Hima towards a great comeback
“Hima got too much attention after the World Junior medal (2018) …I need her to understand that right now her future is in sport. If she wants to be in the sport she has to be a little more demanding to herself. Not to me, I am at the track every day. If she comes and says, ‘coach my body hurts today”, I tell her to go get treatment. What else can I say?” Galina says.
Galina is hopeful with Hima now . She said, this 3month break will help Hima to come back with her best form. She can perfectly rectify all her flaws and focus on her career.
“She got injured and couldn’t make it to the Olympic Games and when she was doing nothing for three months, she finally understood that she has to do her job absolutely differently. She called me and told me ‘coach I have understood everything,” Galina added. (The Indian Express )
76 years old coach Galina believes that Hima has enough potential of leadership. Hima is currently recovering after testing positive for Covid after reporting to the national camp in Patiala. “I still believe in her. She has some really good qualities. She is a very good leader,” Galina said
After winning the historic U 20 World Championship 400m gold, then not being able to qualify for Tokyo Olympics, Hima has not given up. Galina believes Hima will learn from her mistakes and overcome this slump.
Lastly Gelina said that,
“This year will be absolutely different. She is waiting for the camp to begin and to start a very decent season. She is looking to do well at the Asian Games in 4x100m. She is not only angry but hungry to do something really good. These are life lessons and probably this was good in a way. She is very young.”
