Seven sportspersons of Assam including Indian sprint sensation Hima Das have booked a place in the Indian squad for the next Asian Games slated to be held at Jakarta from August 18 next.
Boxer Shiva Thapa also claimed a position in the Indian Boxing squad for the Asiad.
The other sports persons in the Indian squad are Pramila Daimary (Archery) , Rudali Barua (Taekwondo), Ashmita Chaliha (Badminton) , Kabita Devi (Fencing) and Jonali Dutta (Basketball).
People of Assam have high hopes on Hima for a gold at the Jakarata Asiad as she is in her good form and has already scripted history for the country.
Daughter of a farmer, from Dhing, a small, obscure village about 30km from Nagaon district, Hima created history by winning the gold medal in the women's 400-metre event at the IAAF World U-20 Championships held at Tampere, Finland in July last.
Hima clocked 51.46 seconds in the final at the Ratina Stadium to become the first Indian athlete to win gold in a world championship across all age groups.
The sprinter had fared well in the earlier rounds too winning Heat 4 with a time of 52.25 seconds. She emerged on top in the semi-finals as well, winning her race in 52.10 seconds.
Assam's other hope at the Jakarta Asiad is boxer Shiva Thapa. Shiva hails from Guwahati, who participated in the 2012 London Olympics and was the youngest Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics. Thapa is ranked 3rd in the Bantamweight category in the AIBA Men's World Ranking.
Shiva would be competing in his second Asian Game at Jakarta in Indonesia. He is the first and only Indian boxer with three consecutive Asian Championships medals a gold (2013), silver (2017) and a bronze (2015).
