The pressure on India’s star athlete, Hima Das, to attend government and private functions across the country is severely affecting her training, according to Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla.Clarifying that the Junior World Champion from Assam wasn’t to be blamed for taking frequent breaks from the ongoing pre-Olympic national camp in Thiruvananthapuram, the AFI chief said: “Sometimes there is pressure from the highest sources and officials (to attend functions).

The AFI is finding it increasingly difficult, we want to protect athletes.

One of the reasons why we send athletes overseas for training is to keep them away from all these events.”Over the last fortnight, Hima has been away from the camp, attending events in three cities.November 30: Khelo India Youth Games launch at Guwahati, where she shared the stage with the Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal.December 5: India Today Conclave in Kolkata.December 13: YPO South Asia Regional Conference in New Delhi, an event that also had table tennis star Manika Batra and Minister Rijiju.The AFI president said the public appearances of elite athletes needed to be planned better and well in advance.

“If we know in advance, we have no problem because we understand that an athlete has to do certain things.

If they are getting paid and they have to devote ‘X’ number of days, the schedule needs to be in place in advance.

I am very clear about that,” he said.Sumariwalla added that Hima’s training would have been hampered further had he not refused at least two other requests of her presence at events.“I am saying athletes must give back and must be a source of inspiration for youngsters, especially somebody like Hima who is a youth icon.