Lucknow's 'Hima Das' in Khelo India, eyes global track

LUCKNOW: She ran on the dusty roads of a tiny village in Kaushambi district with a dream to represent India in athletics. Coming from a humble background, a farmer's daughter Arti Devi is labelled as Lucknow University's very own Hima Das, who made it to Khelo India camp - a national-level programme for promotion of sports in India, which is to be held in February.
Arti stood sixth in a half marathon (21-km race) held recently in Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore. Like her, four other alumni who made LU proud were also felicitated on Saturday.
Arti had no branded shoes or training in the sport. In fact, it was only her determination that made her figure in the top 10 sprinters, competing with students of 315 universities.
"My father is a small-time farmer and we are three siblings. We have been struggling to make ends meet. It was the support of my maternal uncle and university's physical education teacher that helped me to keep my dream alive," said Arti, a BPEd student. "I aspire to become as fast as Hima Das one day," she said.
Chairman of Lucknow University Athletic Association, Neeraj Jain, said, "Arti is a fantastic athlete and she will be selected in the India team. The department will back her in every way." Like Arti, another alumnus Ram Pal Singh also made it to Khelo India after his extrordinary performance at the inter-university boxing championship.