Hima Das

Let's just say my mind is different.

— Hima Das

Hima is Hima only. I haven't changed.

— Hima Das

I am living a dream.

— Hima Das

I want to run as fast as I can.

— Hima Das

I am not sure how fast I can run.

— Hima Das

I didn't expect I will get the Arjuna at 18 years. I thought 19.

— Hima Das

I believe in time and in God. Nothing else bothers me.

— Hima Das

I hope I will get a chance to compete in the Olympics.

— Hima Das

There are people who want photographs and autographs when they meet me.

— Hima Das

I am a low-key girl from a middle-class family of a small village.

— Hima Das

Sometimes I feel I don't know even know how to run.

— Hima Das

That's probably the only thing I am afraid of: time.

— Hima Das

I don't care how my past was or what I had to go through.

— Hima Das

I am a positive person, and I want to look ahead in life and do something for my parents and the country.

— Hima Das

If you want to achieve something great, you have to work hard for it. It is as simple as that.

— Hima Das

I used to play everything, but people in my village said football is in my blood because my father has been a…

— Hima Das

It is a great feeling that I am the first Indian to win a gold medal in track event in world juniors.

— Hima Das

I don't think about being a star or anything, or even changes in life; it is not something that bothers me.

— Hima Das

I am not running after gold medals; I am running after time. And once I get that, gold medals will run after…

— Hima Das

What I think is about running faster and faster, and I believe that will translate into medals.

— Hima Das

We are human beings, at the end of the day. Success and failure are a part and parcel of our life.

— Hima Das

I am still the same village girl from Dhing who used to help my father in the paddy field, help mother in…

— Hima Das

I live in a joint family with 17 members under one roof. My father is an MA, but he didn't get a…

— Hima Das

Nothing concerns me other than my time. That is my only concern. I don't pay any attention to the rest. I run…

— Hima Das

I'm not comparing it with cricketers who get huge money. But getting some financial benefits do motivate players, especially athletes. I appreciate…

— Hima Das

Our village is very small, so I wasn't surprised when I heard some negative comments from my neighbours on my interest in…

— Hima Das

We usually have a fixed routine for our trainings. It is important that we are disciplined throughout because, being athletes, those little…

— Hima Das

I want for every child - regardless of their background, gender, caste, etc. - to be able to access schools that are…

— Hima Das

When I was in Class II, we used to walk about 5 km. to school. I did not know of Olympics or…

— Hima Das

My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.

— Hima Das

I thrive in competition. It feels good to improve timings and create records.

— Hima Das

I don't think about medals. I just think of bettering my own time.

— Hima Das

I don't worry about timings or what somebody else is doing in another lane.

— Hima Das

I haven't changed, but people's perception changed.

— Hima Das

When there's training, I will focus only on training.

— Hima Das

Everything happens at one step at a time.

— Hima Das

The first 300 m., I go slow and pick up speed at the bend. That's Hima's style.

— Hima Das

My English isn't that good, maybe just 40 per cent fine by normal standards.

— Hima Das

The pressure has increased; I have to practise more and keep performing better.

— Hima Das

I want to thank my parents and my coaches, who brought me out of Guwahati.

— Hima Das