New Delhi: Indian sprinter Hima Das on Friday dedicated her gold medal of mixed relay event in Asian Games 2018 to the corona warriors who are "working selflessly" amid the pandemic.
On Thursday, the Indian 4x400 mixed relay quartet comprising of Mohammed Anas, MR Poovamma, Hima, and Arokia Rajiv, which won silver in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta got upgraded to gold.
Bahrain, which had topped the 4×400 mixed relay final, was disqualified after Kemi Adekoya was handed a four-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing a dope test. The Indian quartet of Mohammed Anas, MR Poovamma, Hima Das and Arokia Rajiv had clocked 3:15:71 behind Bahrain (3:11:89).
Das dedicated her gold medal to police and doctors who ensured everyone's safety and good health.
"I would like to dedicate my upgraded gold medal of 4x400 mixed relay event of Asian Games 2018 to police, doctors and all other corona warriors who are working selflessly in these difficult times of COVID-19 to ensure our safety and good health. Respect for all corona warriors," he said in a tweet.
Also, Anu Raghavan moved from fourth place to secure a bronze medal in the women's 400m hurdles.
At 56.77 seconds, Raghavan clocked her fastest time of 2018, finishing fourth in the hurdles final while her team-mate Jauna Murmu -- second-fastest (57.48) -- secured her the fifth place.
Hima is also a World Athletics junior gold medallist in 400 metres. July 12, 2018, history was created at Tampere, Finland when Hima Das won gold in the 400 metres at the IAAF World U20 Championships, clocking 51.46 seconds. It made her the first Indian athlete to win a medal at any track event at the World Athletics Championships, junior or senior, and only the second Indian to win gold after javelin-thrower Neeraj Chopra had done so in 2016.
