With the aim to shield Dhing Express Hima Das from the “anxiety” of public reception, Assam government is planning to organise a centralised reception in Guwahati.
It is natural for the sports enthusiasts of Assam to rush to the airport to accord a warm welcome to Assam’s Golden Girl. After all, she won one gold and two silver medals for the country, and is the first sports person from the northeast to win so many medals in Asian Games or any other international event.
Senior officials of the Assam government told Northeast Now on Saturday that as per schedule, Hima Das is expected to reach Guwahati on September 4, and will try to reach her ancestral home at Dhing in Nagaon district the same day.
“We are planning to organise a public reception for Hima at Sarusajai stadium,” the officials said, adding that it would be cumbersome for Hima Das, especially after the hectic Asian Games 2018, to attend so many receptions by different organisations.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, ministers and senior bureaucrats would attend the public reception in honour of Hima Das, the officials claimed.
The senior officials said the government will be extra careful with Hima because she will have to concentrate more on her practice and should not be swayed away in the name of felicitation for her success in the Asian Games.
As per the plan, all the major sports associations will be asked to attend the public reception on September 4 in honour of the Dhing Express at Sarusajai stadium. “Everyone can felicitate her the way they like,” the officials said.
General public will also be allowed to attend the public felicitation function; the officials claimed adding that everyone in Assam is proud of Hima’s performance at the Asian Games 2018.
However, the state government did not make official announcements on the plan on Hima’s Das’ public reception at the stadium on September 4. After confirming the date of her arrival, the final decision on the date will be announced on Monday, the officials said.