Hima Das

“I don't show tension and nervousness, but I know how fast my heartbeat races before a race.”

“I live in a joint family with 17 members under one roof. My father is an MA, but he didn't get a job, because all his certificates got destroyed when our house caught fire. So my father took up farming - fish farming and vegetable farming.”

“When I was in Class II, we used to walk about 5 km. to school. I did not know of Olympics or even athletics then. One day, a friend went in a car and left me behind. I was so angry, I wanted to run and outrace the car. I ran so fast that I tripped and fractured my knee.”

“Wherever they send us to practice, we will go.”

“I used to run barefoot in my village some time back. Now, I have a branded shoe with my name on it.”

“Our village is very small, so I wasn't surprised when I heard some negative comments from my neighbours on my interest in sports. But nothing mattered, as I always knew what I was doing and why I was doing it.”

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

“The biggest challenge of my career has always been to improve my timing, and it will always be so.”

“Even Sachin used to get ducks during his career. There are ups and downs in every athlete's career.”

“The ultimate dream of an athlete is to compete in the Olympics. For us athletes, that is the zenith. There is nothing beyond that.”

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

“My focus is on training and championships. I will look at business after retirement... maybe 20 years later.”

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

“I used to wake up at 5 A.M., and my routine involved six hours of training, both in the morning and evening.”

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

“Everyone needs to support AFI. Since they are doing an excellent job, we need to reach greater heights.”

“I want to run as fast as I can.”

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

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

“Whatever the rules are, we have to follow them. I have no problem with it.”