THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The quiet and unassuming M G Murali Kuttan's death is as untimely as it was sudden. He not only leaves his talented son Sujith Kuttan out to find his way up in the tough world of athletics but also wife Mercy Kuttan to keep their academy in Kochi in good stead. Having chosen to keep away from the limelight even when others with half his achievements hog it, Murali Kuttan was the inspiration behind the Mercy Kuttan Athletics Academy that came into existence a couple of years ago.
Even as Mercy became the face and voice of the fledgling training centre, he kept a low profile. So much so that he came to be referred to more as Olympian Mercy Kuttan's husband than an international medallist. His achievements include a 4x400m relay silver and a 400 m individual bronze from the 1978 Bangkok Asiad. The same year, he clinched gold in the 400 m in the IndoRussian athletic Meet held in Ajmer and Patiala. He was also a part of the l team that claimed a bronze in the 1981 Asian Track and Field Meet in Tokyo. "It is a very big loss for Kerala athletics, particularly the Mercy Kuttan Academy," Olympian T C Yohannan told Express.
"The academy was Murali Kuttan's initiative. It was basically to further their aims in athletics that they had settled in Kochi." He said Murali Kuttan was a dedicated athlete in his time. "He was a very good human being and as an athlete he was very passionate about what he was doing," Yohannan added. Murali Kuttan shot into prominence after joining the army in the 1970s. Based at Seconderabad, he performed consistently for the Services to emerge as the country's best quartermiler. Later, he joined Tissco where Mercy Kuttan, too served till the duo took voluntary retirement in 1992 to settle in Kannur. Following their marriage in1981, Murali had taken over as Mercy's coach.
He had also served as the Kannur District Athletics Association secretary from 1994 to 98. Mercy was the first Indian woman long jumper to cross 6m and clinched an Asiad silver in Delhi in1982. In 1989, Mercy received the Arjuna Award while Murali was left a bit dejected in recent times as others half his worth grabbed the coveted recognition. "Does anyone realise the worth of an Asian Games medal?" he had once remarked.