Hima Das won Gold in the 400m event at Federation Cup with 52.88 seconds leaving behind M R Poovamma of Karnataka (53.15 seconds) and Sarita Ben of Gujarat (53.23 seconds).
19-year-old Hima, who took a one-month break from training due to her 12th class examinations, clocked 52.88 seconds, which is well below her national record of 50.79. The timing was seconds more than the Asian Championships qualifying standard of 52.75 set by the Athletics Federation of India.
Hima, the reigning junior world champion in the quartermile event, is still likely to make it to the Indian team for next months Asian Championships on Doha, considering her past performances and her potential.
The selection committee of the AFI will meet on Tuesday to name the team.
“I took a break from rigorous training at the national camp due to my exams. I trained [in Guwahati] in between the exams but I know I did not do proper work out and warm up during the break and so I was not at my best,” Hima said after the race.
