New Delhi: India’s young athletes are doing the nation proud. It was witnessed at the recently concluded Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia. One of them is just 18 and she is the country’s newest sprint sensation - Hima Das.  She is grabbing eyeballs on the track and off it. Now, she has added one more feather in the cap with the nomination for prestigious Arjuna Award.

After clinching the gold in women’s 400m at the U-20 World Championship in Finland in July, she continued her success story with three medals at the Asian Games.

Thanks to her achievements, she has now inked a deal with sportswear giant Adidas. On the sidelines of a promotional event organised by the German-based company, Hima spoke to MyNation in an interview where she shared her success story.

When asked about what had kept her motivated even during adverse situations, she talks about how she has always thrived under pressure to prove herself and that she believes that “one should first do themselves proud before they do the nation proud”.

Despite not having much experience, she firmly believes that whatever one does, hard work should be involved and success is bound to follow.

Nicknamed the "Dhing Express", Hima has been a sensation this year as she added three medals - a gold and two silver at the 18th Asian Games. The star sprinter won gold in women's 4x400m relay and silver medals in mixed 4x400m and 400m individual event.

When asked about the advice she would like to give the thousands of young female sprint aspirants, Hima said, "The government now has several schemes to encourage young talent in sports. In our case, we had to do it on our own to get to where we are now. I would request the parents to give full support to their children who view sport as a probable profession. Step by step, they'll get there and make it big in their lives. Looking at my own example, however tough my journey has been, today I have a stage, support from people and my only aim is to focus on the game."

Asked whether she's planning to open her own academy or sports institute, she said, "Now people are entering into coaching, but I know that my only job now is to play the sport sincerely. I have a lot of years in my hand to think about it (academy) but all I want to do now is to concentrate on my game."

"We prefer other countries for the weather," she says when asked about her notion on India's standards compared to the other countries during her participations in international tournaments.

"India is just as great, but then the facilities that foreign countries offer are definitely better. There's not much of a difference competing in either, as India is good as well to play the sport but I think India should be having everything to offer in the near future," she said.

Elaborating about her priorities, she says training and weather to the list to help an athlete immensely.

Asked about her training schedule, she said: "Training is going on well, whatever coach instructs me, I do accordingly. I always try to give my best, everyday."

"We (Indian athletes) would be starting our training after 1-2 days. Next year we have a lot of events lined up, including the world championship, so we train ourselves accordingly and give our best", Das said, talking about resuming her training.

Having clocked a personal best timing of 50.79 seconds, a national record, to win silver in the 400m race at Asian Games, she wants to improve further.

"The training will talk. Now all we have in mind is to turn the 50.79 to 50.78," she said when asked whether she is looking at going sub-50.