The Assam government has nominated India’s ace sprinter Hima Das and boxer Lovlina Borgohain for the prestigious Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards respectively.
Assam government’s sports and youth welfare director Dharma Kanta Mlli said that a letter has been sent to the union youth affairs and sports ministry recommending Hima Das’s name for the Khel Ratna award.
“The sports secretary also proposed the name of ace boxer Lovlina Borgohain for the Arjuna award. Both Das and Borgohain are Assam’s pride,” he said.
The 20-year-old from Dhing in Assam’s Nagaon district is one of the youngest nominees for Khel Ratna this year and will be vying for the top honour with cricketer Rohit Sharma, star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, paddler Manika Batra and women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal.
Hima had a stellar 2018 where she won her U-20 world title and followed it up with 400m silver, 4X400 mixed relay gold (upgraded) and women’s 4X400m gold at the Jakarta Asian Games.
Hima bagged 200m gold in Poznan Athletics Grand Prix in Poland in 2019 and 200m gold at the Kladno Athletics Meet in the Czech Republic as she continued to sizzle.
She was also invited to compete at the Doha World Championship but a back injury ruled her out of the prestigious competition.
23-yer-old Lovlina Borgohain, hails from Golaght is the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent the country after Shiva Thapa.
She won a gold medal at 1st India Open International Boxing Tournament held in New Delhi and a silver medal at the 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament held in Guwahati.
She won a bronze medal at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships held in Ulan-Ude, Russia.