Hima Das should be given financial support: Vijender

Kolkata: Indian boxing star Vijender Singh on Tuesday hailed athletics' latest golden girl Hima Das' performance, saying the Assamese lass should be supported financially from here on and not just eulogised.

Hima created history last week by winning the yellow metal in the women's 400 metre event at the IAAF World U-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland. She registered a time of 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.

"She did a great job. It's amazing," Vijender told reporters on the sidelines of an interactive session with students of Newtown School here.

"People only congratulate her. But there should be people who will support her financially. She comes from a poor family and she needs financial support," said the 32-year old Vijender who is now into pro boxing.

Born in a poor family, Hima is the last of five children of a rice-growing farmer in Kandhulimari village about five kilometers from Dhing town of Nagaon district in central Assam.

Since her unprecedented achievement, the 18-year old who wanted to be a football player has become the toast of the nation with India cricket team captain Virat Kohli and batting legend Sachin Tendulkar among the many to have congratulated her.

Talking about his own experience prior to Beijing Olympics where he was the last to qualify from the Asian qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan, Vijender said it doesn't come easy and thus the toil should be recognised in Hima's case.

"People had written me off as I made the cut at the last moment. It doesn't come easy so I feel her effort should not go in waste and she should be supported properly."