Sprinter Hima Das Tests COVID Positive, Says Her Condition Is Stable

Hima Das tests COVID positive: Assamese sprinter revealed in a tweet on October 13 that she has tested positive for COVID-19. The runner, who was part of the Indian 4x400m women's relay team that had won a gold medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018, revealed in her post that her condition was stable.

"I would like to inform everyone that I have been tested positive for Covid-19. I am stable and at the moment in isolation. I look forward to utilising this time to recover and come back stronger than before," Das wrote in her tweet, also reminding everyone to stay safe and wear a mask.

I would like to inform everyone that I have been tested positive for Covid-19. I am stable and at the moment in isolation. I look forward to utilising this time to recover and come back stronger than before. 💪🏼
A gentle reminder for
everyone to stay safe and wear mask.

— Hima (mon jai) (@HimaDas8) October 13, 2021

Das was a part of a national-level camp at National Institute of Sport (NIS) in Patiala recently. According to her manager, Das was in Guwahati on October 8 and 9 and had returned to the camp on October 10 and was suffering from mild exhaustion. "We thought it was nothing to worry about. She must have tested positive during compulsory tests at Patiala," the athlete's manager said.

While that camp was scheduled to begin in last week of October, the sprinter had reported well ahead of the dates in order to get a headstart.

Das had missed out on the Tokyo Olympics after failing to match the 200m heat qualification mark of 22.80s during the Federation Cup, where she had clocked in 23.21s seconds. A Hamstring injury later further diluted Das' chances to secure an Olympic berth.

Who is Hima Das?

Das is the first-ever Indian athlete to win a gold medal at the IAAF World U20 Championships. In 2018, the runner from Dhing bagged a silver medal in the women’s 400m final of the Asian Games, by completing the heat in 50.79 seconds. She was also a part of the mixed relay team for India at the Asian Games, which won the silver medal.

Das was named as the country’s first youth ambassador to the United Nations Children’s Fund India the same year. In February this year, she was appointed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the state of Assam. Read more on that here.

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