KOCHI: The city witnessed an athletics meet of a reassuring kind on Sunday as senior citizens from across the state gathered at the Maharaja’s College Stadium to compete against each other in the first ever All Kerala Senior Athletics Meet organised by the Kochi Municipal Corporation, Age Friendly Ernakulam, Indian Medical Association and Magics NGO.Over 200 senior citizens competed in sprints, jumps and throws events in age categories 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, 75-80, 80-85 and 85-90.The oldest among the participants was 85-year-old G K Mathew from Pathanamthitta who, like hundreds, braved their age for a day on the track and field.
“We have had state masters athletics meet where athletes aged over 35 years compete. But this might be the first time a meet exclusively for senior citizens is being held in the state,” said Jojo Kurian, the vice-president of the Ernakulam District Masters Athletics Association. Raveendran G, a 66-year-old, has come all the way from Kathiroor near Thalassery in Kannur to participate in the championship. “It is a great opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones,” said the athlete who recently returned from the 20th Asia Masters Athletics Championships held in China from September 24 to 28.
Having won silver in high jump, gold in 4x100 metre relay and bronze in 4x400 metre relay at the Asian meet, Raveendran amassed three gold medals at the Maharaja’s College Stadium on Sunday. “I participated in the high jump, long jump and 200-metre sprint here and won all three, fortunately,” said a beaming Raveendran. “I used to do athletics while I was young, but stopped altogether a while ago. After 15 years I returned to athletics recently and am happy to have done so.”
Jose Kutty from Pala, meanwhile, had to settle for silver in javelin and discus throws. “For some of us, it is a break from the mundane life. Some others take it very seriously and represent the country at international events,” said Jose. For the second group, the state meet organisers are offering flight tickets for individual champions among men and women to Malaga, Spain, where the World Master Athletics Championships will be held in 2018.
For Magics, this is one more step in the right direction in their efforts to make Kochi an age-friendly city. “We have been carrying out a lot of initiatives to meet the World Health Organisation’s parameters to consider Kochi an age-friendly city. This athletics meet is another initiative and we will expand this meet to include other sports events like football and cricket in the coming years,” said Balu James, director of Magics.
Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain inaugurated the meet earlier in the day at the Sacred Heart College Ground in Thevara. However, the events had to be shifted to the Maharaja’s College Stadium as the incessant rains made the conditions at the SH Ground infavourable to conduct the meet. A Kerala State Senior Citizens’ Athletics Association was also formed during the day which will coordinate similar events in the future.