Hima Das: Biography, Age, Height, Career, Net Worth, Family & More

She was running barefoot through muddy paddy fields in a small Assamese village before she ever set foot on a proper track. Nobody outside of Dhing had ever heard of her. But when Hima Das crossed the finish line first at the 2018 World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland – gold medal gleaming, the crowd roaring – an entire nation stopped and stared. Here was a rice farmer's daughter from the Northeast of India who had just made history, becoming the first Indian athlete in history to win a gold medal in a global track event.

That moment didn't just earn her a medal. It gave India a story it desperately needed.

Hima Das – nicknamed the "Dhing Express" and the "Golden Girl" – is one of the most celebrated sprinters in Indian sporting history. Born on January 9, 2000, she grew up without running shoes, formal coaching, or a training facility within miles of her home. What she had instead was a fearless stride, an unbreakable spirit, and natural pace that left everyone – coaches, rivals, and spectators – speechless. Today, she holds the Indian national record in the 400m, has won five gold medals in a single month in Europe, and serves as Deputy Superintendent of Police in Assam while continuing to compete at the highest level.

Her journey is not just a sports story. It is a story about what happens when raw talent meets relentless determination – and a reminder that greatness can come from anywhere, even the paddy fields of Nagaon district.

Quick Facts – Hima Das Infobox

Early Life and Background

Hima Das was born on January 9, 2000, in the small village of Kandhulimari, situated near the town of Dhing in Assam's Nagaon district. She grew up in one of India's northeastern states, a region that is rich in culture and natural beauty but historically underrepresented in national sports conversations.

Her father, Ronjit Das, is a rice farmer who also played football at the state level when he was younger. Her mother, Jonali Das, is a homemaker who managed the household with quiet strength. Together, they raised five children, and Hima is the youngest of the siblings. The family's livelihood depended on the land – on rice paddies and seasonal harvests – and life was simple, modest, and at times economically challenging.

Growing up in such an environment, Hima found her earliest joy not on a track but on muddy football grounds. From a very young age, she played football with the boys in her village, and by all accounts, she gave them a run for their money. She was fast – naturally, effortlessly fast – and the local boys quickly learned not to underestimate the girl from the paddy fields.

At home, the family was close-knit and deeply rooted in Assamese culture. Hima often talks about her childhood with great fondness – about running through open fields, about the smell of rain on the soil, about simple village routines that shaped her discipline. Her father's passion for football ran in the family, and Hima inherited both his love for sport and his competitive instinct.

Even as a child, there was something different about how she moved. She didn't just run – she seemed to fly. And once a sharp-eyed coach noticed that, everything changed.

Education

Hima Das completed her early schooling at Dhing Public School in her hometown. She was an average student academically, but she more than made up for it with her energy, enthusiasm, and drive in any physical activity.

When she was in fifth grade, she was selected for the prestigious Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) system – a network of central government schools in India specifically established for talented students from rural areas. Admission required clearing a competitive entrance examination, which Hima passed successfully. This was a pivotal transition – the JNV gave her access to better facilities, a structured environment, and crucially, a physical education infrastructure.

It was here that a PE teacher named Shamsul Hoque (also cited as Shamshul Sheikh in some accounts) first noticed her athletic potential. Observing her pace during inter-school activities, he encouraged her to consider competitive sprinting as a serious option. He saw something in her running that most people missed – not just speed, but a rare combination of stride, power, and instinct.

Hima passed her Class 12 board examinations in May 2019 and subsequently enrolled at Cotton University in Guwahati, Assam, to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Balancing higher education with a professional athletic career has never been easy, but Hima has spoken about the value of completing her studies even amid a packed competitive schedule.

Her education, while sometimes overshadowed by her athletic achievements, reflects a broader commitment to being a well-rounded person – one who did not abandon books even as the world was opening up to her.

Career Journey

From Football Fields to Running Tracks

Hima Das never intended to be a sprinter. She wanted to be a footballer. Growing up, football was the sport she loved, and she played it enthusiastically with the boys in her village. But women's football in India at that point offered limited pathways, and when a PE teacher suggested she try track events, she hesitated before agreeing to give it a shot.

That reluctant step onto the track turned out to be one of the most consequential decisions in Indian sports history.

After switching to athletics at the recommendation of her school teacher, Hima quickly showed that she had something extraordinary. In 2016, she competed in an inter-district athletics competition where she won the 100m event. The simplicity of that victory belied its importance – it was the moment coaches first took notice. Coach Nipon Das and Nabajit Malakar, both veterans of Assam athletics, spotted her at the event.

Nipon Das later recalled what he saw that day: she was wearing inexpensive spikes, with no fancy gear, no polished technique – but she ran like the wind. He hadn't seen a talent like that in years, he said. He immediately encouraged her to move to Guwahati, 140 kilometres from her village, to train at the Sarusajai Stadium under proper supervision.

Her parents were understandably hesitant. Their youngest daughter, barely a teenager, moving away from home to chase a dream? But Hima's passion was unmistakable, and eventually they agreed. Her father, who had been a sporty man himself, reportedly said that there was no point stopping someone whose passion was that real.

Early National Circuit (2016–2017)

Once in Guwahati and training seriously under Nipon Das, Hima began to shine at the national junior level. She competed in the 100m and 200m events initially, winning medals at school nationals. Her bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200m at school nationals made it clear that she was one of the fastest young girls in the country.

In 2017, she was selected for the Youth (U-18) Nationals in Hyderabad. She then qualified for the 2017 Asian Youth Championships, where she finished seventh in the 200m with a timing of 24.52 seconds. She also competed at the 2017 World Youth Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, finishing fifth with a timing of 24.31 seconds. These were impressive results for someone who had only recently taken up athletics seriously.

Around this time, her coaches made another key decision: they switched her primary event from 100m/200m to the 400 metres. It was a demanding transition – the 400m requires not just raw speed but calculated race strategy, endurance, and near-perfect energy distribution. Hima adapted with remarkable speed.

The Historic 2018 Season

The year 2018 was when Hima Das went from being a promising young athlete to an Indian icon.

It began with the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia – her international debut at a major multi-sport event. She competed in the 400m and the 4×400m relay, finishing sixth in the individual 400m final (51.32 seconds). It wasn't a podium finish, but it was a significant debut and gave her invaluable international experience.

Then came July 2018 – and the moment that changed everything.

At the IAAF World U20 Championships 2018 held in Tampere, Finland, Hima Das lined up for the 400m final. Facing strong competition including USA's youth champion Taylor Manson, she ran with controlled aggression, saving her best for the last stretch. She crossed the line in 51.46 seconds – first place. A gold medal. India's first-ever track gold at a World Athletics championship.

The stadium erupted. Back home, a nation celebrated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind both congratulated her on Twitter. She was the toast of India – and she was just 18 years old.

The story has an added layer of poignancy. Before the championships, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had reportedly been dismissive of her, even mocking her English in pre-event interactions. When she returned with gold, the AFI issued an apology. The girl from the paddy fields had silenced her critics with the most powerful answer imaginable.

She joined Neeraj Chopra as the only Indians to win gold at the Junior World Athletics Championships.

Just weeks later, at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Hima continued her extraordinary form:

• Silver medal in the individual 400m, clocking 50.79 seconds – a new Indian national record that still stands to this day
• Gold medal in the women's 4×400m relay (with M.R. Poovamma, Sarita Gayakwad, and V.K. Vismaya, clocking 3:28.72)
• Gold medal in the mixed 4×400m relay – an event that was making its debut at the Asian Games

Three medals in Jakarta. A new national record. An Arjuna Award from the Government of India in September 2018. And an Adidas endorsement deal. Hima Das had arrived.

In November 2018, she was appointed as India's first-ever UNICEF Youth Ambassador – a recognition not just of her athletic achievements but of the values she embodied: resilience, determination, and inspiration for young people everywhere, particularly girls from rural backgrounds.

She also appeared on the cover of GQ India in October 2018 as "Young Indian of the Year."

The Golden Run – Five Golds in 19 Days

If 2018 was her breakthrough, then July 2019 was her symphony.

In the span of just 19 days, Hima Das won five consecutive gold medals in European athletics meets – a run of dominance that had India glued to updates from Poland and the Czech Republic.

And she wasn't done. A few days after, she won a sixth gold at the Athletický Mítink Reiter in the Czech Republic in the 300m event.

Six gold medals. One athlete. The Internet called it "Hima season." It wasn't just the wins that captivated people – it was the consistency, the confidence, the way she kept topping podiums week after week as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

One of those European meets also saw her clock 23.10 seconds in the 200m – at one point her personal best in the event. The brand that had once put her name on a pair of running shoes had now truly earned that association.

On November 1, 2019, Hima appeared on a special "Karamveer" episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), Season 11, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan – alongside sprinter Dutee Chand. It was a moment that brought her story to millions of Indian households.

Injuries, Setbacks, and Resilience

No athlete's journey is linear, and Hima Das's career has been marked by painful setbacks that have tested her mental and physical toughness.

In August 2019, during the Asian Championships in Doha, she pulled up in the 400m heats. Medical examination revealed she was carrying a serious lumbar spondylitis (lower back) injury. This ruled her out of the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, which was a crushing blow given the form she was in.

Then came COVID-19, which disrupted the entire global sports calendar and made Olympic qualification windows incredibly narrow. Despite working hard toward the Tokyo Olympics 2021, Hima then sustained a hamstring injury that ultimately ended her qualifying chances. She was unable to make the cut – a painful disappointment for an athlete who had worked so hard for that opportunity.

She attempted to refocus on the 100m and 200m events, and showed good form in 2021 with a gold in the 200m at the Federation Cup National Athletics Championship (clocking 23.21 seconds) and another gold at the Indian Grand Prix II (23.31 seconds).

At the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, she made it to the 200m semi-finals after qualifying from her heat with an impressive 23.42 seconds – but was unable to proceed further. The expectations around her were enormous, and not progressing beyond the semi-finals felt like a disappointment to her fans, though she remained composed.

She was unable to make the squad for the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou due to ongoing injury issues, and subsequently failed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics – another difficult chapter in an otherwise remarkable story.

The NADA Suspension

In September 2023, Hima Das was provisionally suspended by India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after missing three out-of-competition drug tests within a 12-month period – a violation of "whereabouts" rules under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) framework.

Importantly, this was not a positive test for a banned substance. The issue was administrative – she failed to be available for testing at registered locations on three occasions. While initially cleared at a disciplinary hearing in March 2024, NADA later imposed a retrospective 16-month suspension effective from July 22, 2023 to November 21, 2024, through a case resolution agreement.

Hima completed the suspension on November 21, 2024, and is once again fully eligible to compete. The episode was widely debated in Indian sporting circles, with many arguing that the procedural nature of the violation – as opposed to actual doping – deserved more nuance in its public handling. Hima herself maintained her integrity through the period, and her reputation as a clean athlete remained intact.

Physical Appearance

Hima Das cuts an athletic, commanding figure. Standing at approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) and weighing around 55 kg, she has the lean, powerful build of a sprinter built for explosive events. Her long strides and natural posture on the track are part of what makes her running style so visually striking.

Off the track, Hima is known for her simple, unpretentious style. She favors sportswear and traditional Assamese clothing for cultural events and generally presents herself without the high-gloss glamour associated with many celebrity athletes. Fans and media alike have noted that she carries herself with a quiet confidence that feels very authentic to her roots.

She has dark brown eyes and black hair, and her complexion reflects her northeastern Indian heritage. Despite being associated with premium brands like Adidas, she has consistently projected a grounded, approachable public image – one that resonates especially with younger fans from smaller towns and rural India.

Her fitness regimen includes intense daily track sessions, strength training, and recovery protocols suited to a 400m/200m specialist. Even during the period of suspension, she reportedly continued training to stay ready for competition.

Social Media Presence

Hima Das is active on social media, though she maintains a relatively private digital profile compared to some other Indian athletes of similar fame. Her Instagram handle, @hima_mon_jai, has been her primary public platform.

She uses social media primarily to share updates on her training, competitions, and causes she supports – including women's empowerment, education for rural girls, and animal welfare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she donated a month's salary to Assam's COVID-19 relief fund and announced it on social media, earning widespread admiration.

Her digital presence also includes brand collaborations with Adidas, for whom she is an ambassador, as well as occasional campaigns tied to her role as UNICEF Youth Ambassador.

Net Worth and Income Sources

Hima Das's net worth is estimated at approximately ₹2–3 crore (though some sources speculate higher figures based on endorsement valuations). Her income comes from multiple streams:

The Assam government gifted her a vehicle following her gold medal success. She is also known to have received a jersey signed by Sachin Tendulkar – a personal touchstone for a girl who grew up idolizing him.

She does not project a lavish lifestyle. By her own accounts and those of people who know her, she remains rooted in the values her family instilled – hard work, simplicity, and putting results before recognition.

Family and Relationships

Family is central to who Hima Das is. She has spoken often about the role her parents played in making her journey possible – not by engineering a sports career for her, but simply by trusting her.

Father – Ronjit Das: A rice farmer and reportedly a fast runner himself in his youth. He is known for saying that once he saw Hima's passion was real, there was no question of stopping her. His quiet support was instrumental in her decision to move to Guwahati at a young age.

Mother – Jonali Das: A homemaker who kept the family grounded. Hima credits her mother's discipline and warmth as a major influence on her personal character.

Siblings: Hima is the youngest of five siblings, including an older sister named Rinti Das, another sister Barsha Das, and a brother Basanta Das, among others. Her siblings have remained largely outside the public eye, and Hima has kept their lives private.

On the question of relationships, Hima Das has never publicly confirmed a romantic partner or boyfriend. She has maintained strict privacy around her personal life in this regard, and there are no confirmed or credible reports about her dating life. As of 2026, she remains unmarried and has stated publicly that her focus remains entirely on her athletic career.

Controversies

NADA Suspension (2023–2024)

The most significant controversy of Hima's career came in 2023 when she was provisionally suspended by NADA for three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period. This sparked considerable public debate.

Supporters argued that whereabouts failures – which are administrative violations, not evidence of drug use – were being treated with disproportionate severity, and raised concerns about athlete welfare and the complexity of maintaining whereabouts records while managing injuries and personal obligations. Critics of the process pointed out that the initial clearance at a disciplinary hearing was subsequently reversed, creating confusion and inconsistency.

Hima did not test positive for any banned substance, and she served out the suspension without public controversy regarding her character. She completed the suspension on November 21, 2024, and re-emerged as a fully eligible competitor. The Athletics Federation of India and sporting media largely treated her comeback with enthusiasm.

AFI's Pre-2018 Incident

Before the 2018 World U20 Championships, it was reported that some officials at the Athletics Federation of India had made condescending remarks about Hima's command of English. The implication was that a young girl from rural Assam who couldn't speak polished English wasn't a serious international contender.

She responded to this in the most powerful way possible – by winning gold. The AFI subsequently issued an apology. The episode highlighted troubling elitist attitudes within Indian sporting institutions, and Hima's triumph over that dismissal became part of the mythology around her story.

Achievements and Awards

Career Timeline

Interesting Facts About Hima Das

• She once wrote a brand name on her shoes by hand. Before she had a real sponsorship deal, Hima wanted to look like other athletes with branded gear. She literally wrote a brand name on her plain spikes with a pen. Adidas later came to her – and made shoes with her name on them. The full-circle moment is something she has spoken about with visible emotion.
• A tigress cub was named after her. In early 2021, the Bannerghatta National Park and Zoo in Bengaluru named a newborn tigress cub "Hima" in her honour. That's the kind of status that transcends sport.
• She dreamed of flying in an airplane as a child. Her father has recalled that when Hima was around seven years old, she told him she wanted to fly on an airplane someday. She went on to travel the world competing at international events. That childhood dream was very well kept.
• She is India's only female athlete alongside Neeraj Chopra with a World Junior gold. In a country of 1.4 billion people, only two athletes have achieved this – Neeraj Chopra (javelin) and Hima Das (400m). The company she keeps says everything.
• She is a huge Sachin Tendulkar fan. In 2018, she received a signed Sachin Tendulkar jersey – a moment she described with the kind of delight that reminded everyone she is still a young person with heroes of her own.
• She donated her salary to COVID relief. When the pandemic hit and Assam was struggling, Hima donated her entire month's salary to the state's COVID-19 relief fund. It was a quiet, unpublicised gesture that spoke volumes about her character.
• She is Assam's only second international gold medallist. After the great Bhogeswar Baruah, Hima became only the second athlete from Assam to win a gold medal at an international athletics event.
• She was a football player first. Before the track, she was on the football pitch – and not just as a casual player. She competed against boys and held her own. Her father's football background clearly ran in the blood.
• She openly campaigns against menstrual taboos. Hima has used her platform to speak out against deeply entrenched social taboos around menstruation – a bold and necessary stance for a public figure from a conservative cultural context.
• She serves as a Police officer while competing. Since February 2021, she has held the official rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Assam Police Service. She stated publicly that she intends to join active service after retiring from sports.

Popular Quotes

"I am not running after gold medals; I am running after time." — Hima Das

"Before my first nationals, my father brought running shoes with spikes on them. It was just a normal pair. I wrote a brand name on the shoes with my hand. You never know what fate can do – they are now making shoes with my name." — Hima Das

"I will focus on sports for now. I will join the service after retiring from sports." — Hima Das, on her DSP appointment (2021)

Key Competitions and Records

Personal Best Times

Major Competition Highlights

Public Image and Legacy

Hima Das is more than an athlete. She is a symbol.

For girls growing up in rural India – in Assam, in the Northeast, in states that have historically been peripheral to the national sports conversation – she represents the validation that talent exists everywhere, not just in urban academies and well-funded programs. When a 15-year-old girl in a small Assamese town watches Hima win gold on a global stage, something shifts in her sense of what is possible.

Her UNICEF Youth Ambassador role has amplified this message considerably. She has spoken at major forums including the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, engaging audiences who might never otherwise consider the systemic challenges that athletes from underprivileged backgrounds face – lack of nutrition, lack of equipment, lack of exposure, and social pressure on women to not pursue sport professionally.

Her decision to openly challenge menstrual taboos showed a social courage that goes beyond sport. For many Indian women, especially in rural contexts, menstruation remains a topic shrouded in shame and silence. Hima's willingness to address it publicly – at the peak of her fame – was culturally significant.

Her appointment as DSP in the Assam Police is also meaningful: it demonstrates what an athlete-friendly state sports policy can achieve, ensuring that athletic careers don't have to end in economic uncertainty.

She has a fan base that spans generations. Young athletes idolize her for her speed. Parents from similar backgrounds see her as proof that their children can dream without limits. And the broader public – the millions of people who followed her golden run in July 2019 on their phones and televisions – simply love her for the joy she brings.

Latest News and Current Status

As of mid-2026, Hima Das is back where she belongs: training, competing, and building toward the next chapter of her career.

After completing her NADA suspension on November 21, 2024, she began preparing for a comeback with a focus on the 2026 Asian Games. In early 2025, she took a ceremonial dip in the Ganga at the Maha Kumbh – a highly publicised personal moment that reconnected her with millions of followers.

Reports from 2026 confirm that she has been named in the lineup for the Indian Athletics Series in Delhi, where she is expected to compete in both the 200m and 400m events – her most comfortable distances. This marks her return to formal competitive athletics after a period of suspension and recovery.

She remains a DSP in the Assam Police while continuing her athletic career, maintaining the dual identity that has become something of a calling card.

The 2026 Asian Games represent her most immediate major target – a competition where she previously claimed two gold medals in relay events and a silver in the 400m. A successful return would be one of Indian athletics' most compelling storylines.

Hima Das is 26 years old. She is not done. Not by a long stretch.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Article last updated: June 2026. All facts verified against public domain sources including Wikipedia, Olympics.com, and official sports records. Net worth estimates are approximate and sourced from publicly available data.