Watch: Hima Das in tears during national anthem after victory; PM Modi says it touched him deeply

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated athlete Hima Das on winning a gold in the women's 400m race in the World U20 Athletic Championships. The 18-year-old sprinter scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold at the world level. She clocked 51.46s to win the gold. Modi said he was "extremely moved" seeing Hima passionately searching for the Tricolour immediately after winning the 400m race. "Unforgettable moments from @HimaDas8’s victory. Seeing her passionately search for the Tricolour immediately after winning and getting emotional while singing the National Anthem touched me deeply. I was extremely moved. Which Indian won’t have tears of joy seeing this!, the prime minister said on Twitter.

Unforgettable moments from @HimaDas8’s victory. Seeing her passionately search for the Tricolour immediately after winning and getting emotional while singing the National Anthem touched me deeply. I was extremely moved. Which Indian won’t have tears of joy seeing this! pic.twitter.com/8mG9xmEuuM

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2018

No woman before Das has won a gold medal in a World Championship at any level, be it youth, junior or senior. She is also the first Indian to have won a gold in a track event at the world level. Das hails from Dhing village in Assam's Nagaon district.