Nipon Das had no concerns when his ward Hima Das started slowly off the blocks in the 400m final at the IAAF U-20 World Championships in Tampere, Finland on Thursday night. He knew that she was spot-on in her strategy. Hima ultimately blazed in the final 100 metres for India's first ever gold in an international track event.

Perfect strategy
"Hima's race begins in the final 80m. It's amazing and almost surprising to watch her excelling within such a short time towards the end. It's only two years since she first wore spikes," said Nipon, Hima's first coach, who has acted a mentor to the novice since spotting her in January last year.