When Tony Mathew of G V Raja Sports School accelerated towards the throwing line with his javelin his father and veteran athlete K M Mathew Kootungal waited in the gallery with bated breath to see his son winning a medal in an event which he could not ever participate.
Tony, who hails from Kannur, came first in the event with a hurl of 54.47 m. He is being trained by coach P R S Nair. He had earlier won gold in the South Zone junior athletics meet 2012 held in Kochi and M K Joseph Memorial state inter-club athletics championship 2012 in Kochi.
A visibly elated Tony said after the winning throw that he wished to improve his performance. ‘’This is my first participation in a senior event. Next time I wish to break a record,’’ he said.
Tony had also come second in last year’s school meet with 55.98 m. His personal best is 56.59 m when he won bronze in the national junior athletic meet held in Warangal in 2009. Tony joined GV Raja Sports School getting admitted to the eighth standard.
Tony’s father Mathew was the vice-captain of the state school volleyball team which had won several national events. He had also come first in 5,000 m race, discus throw and shot put in the state school athletic meet in 1982. ‘’I never tried my hands at javelin throw though there was no specific reason. Now I am happy that my son is having a successful trail in it,’’ he said.
On his ambition, Tony says he wants a career in Navy or Air Force. His mother is Lissie and sisters are Biji Mathew and Sandra.