Hima Das added another feature into her hat after a Royal Bengal tigress cub at the Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park was named after her on Monday (July 291) on the occasion of 'International Tiger Day'.
Zoo's Executive Director Vanashree Vipin Singh while interacting with the media in Bengaluru later on the day said that the decision was made to honour the young Indian sprinter following her impressive golden run at the European events recently.
"We decided to honour Hima by naming a six-month-old Bengal tiger cub after her," he said.
Reacting to the Bengaluru zoo's gesture, people in Assam have expressed happiness and called it to be a befitting honour for the young sprinter.
"It's a rare honour. Tiger is India's national animal and to be named as one of it means a lot. This is not just a matter of pride for Hima Das or the athletic fraternity, but also for the people of the state," feels Nareshwar Deka, a sports enthusiast of Guwahati.
"This will inspire many more young Assamese to come forward and choose other sports except cricket as a career option," he further says.
"This is immensely morale-boosting," he concludes.
It may be mentioned here that Hima Das in the last few weeks has won 5 gold medals at various competitions in European races.
She on July 20 clinched gold in the 400m race at Nove Mesto nad Metuji Grand Prix in the Czech Republic.
She clocked 52.09 seconds in the race.
Das on July 2 won her first gold at the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix in Poland.
This was her first 200m competitive race of the year.
At the Kutno Athletics Meet in Poland on July 8, Hima won her second gold in 200m race category.
Her third gold in 200m race came on July 13 at the Kladno Athletics Meet in the Czech Republic.
The fourth gold came on July 17 in 200m race category at the Tabor Athletics Meet.
Meanwhile, the zoo authorities celebrating the International Tider Day on Monday, put on display a group of eight tigers, including 'Hima Das', for the visitors.
The visitors were enlightened to see the big cats move around and roar in the zoo.
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