My Papa, My Champion!

                  For the past three days I was just anxiously waiting for my Papa to finish through his events in the 17th Asian Masters' Athletic Championship, being held at Taipei. I feel like running to any mountain top and to shout that my Papa won 3 Gold Medals in the meet, for 80 metres and 200 metres hurdles and steeplechase (2000 metres), respectively. 

        

         At the age of 83, he still runs and jumps over the hurdles and brings home medals and certificates. I was a school kid when Papa started participating in Masters' Athletics (for 40+ men and 35+ women). No one else but Papa was interested in athletics in our family. Papa used to go regularly for the District level, State level and National level meets and he won many prizes. 

        

         As a child, he had to climb up and down many hills, running and crossing many hurdles to go to school. Like many of the athletes of Kerala, the first practice sessions were done through this running and jumping. The only practice he ever had for long jump was his daily jumping across a stream that he had to cross while going to school. Unfortunately he didn't reach the Olympics as no one was there to train him up. But out of his own interest he participated in every meet in School and College levels. In addition, he was in both football and basketball teams.

        

         Till he retired from his teaching job, his day consisted of his job at school, work in our plot and sports practice. I still remember him exercising in the evening in our courtyard. He used to fix two wooden sticks as poles and after carefully measuring the height, would tie a cord connecting both, to make it a hurdle to jump over. The space was so limited, just enough to run and jump once. The practice would become rigorous as the date approaches for the meets, and the venue would be the nearby college stadium. 

        

         After retirement he was fully engaged in agriculture. No amount of tiring work or sickness could defeat his spirit and he ran every year, in every meet. Last year he completed 60 years in hurdles, a rare achievement in the field of athletics.

        

         He caught our attention and admiration as he grew old, when we were worried about his age and health. It was a few years back that my mom and my family accompanied him to the stadium for a National meet. We were so thrilled to see Papa running in full speed. Suddenly he missed his step, he fell down, but before we could worry, he jumped up and ran forward overtaking his opponents to win the gold! 

        

         When I went last week to wish him before he left for Taipei, he looked so tired after the recent fever he had. My only concern and prayer was his safe homecoming. He sounded like a kid when he called after winning his first gold and he told that he is sure to win the next. He did. Third day was the steeplechase, a 2000-metres race crossing water, hurdles, etc.  When I told him that he should stop when and if he feels tired, he laughed and told me, "it's nothing, I will do it easily". Yes, he was right. He won his third gold this morning as he finished it.

        

         As a child, I would check the next day's newspaper to see if my Papa's photo was published. Never he came in news as he was an ordinary person. I used to get angry when I saw pictures of influential people who won second or third places, printed big with captions. Years later he came in small pictures and last year one of his old students wrote an article about him in Malayala Manorama Newspaper. 

         People like my Papa make their way to the victory stand by their own efforts and means. They pay for their travel and stay, wherever they go. The old and the weak still run with their eyes fixed on the finishing line, not on fame. No distance can stop them from running; no hurdle can hinder their determination.

         My Papa will be back to his routine life as soon as he comes back from Taipei. A few associations and institutions of our village will honour him. He will humbly continue his life as if nothing great ever happened.

                 

         I am so proud to know that the 80+ age group World Record for 80 metres and 200 metres hurdles are held by my Papa. He is one of the oldest people in the world who participate in hurdles race. 

        

         After all these years, I have lost interest in seeing my Papa's photos and news in a big column in any newspaper or in any TV channel. Now all I pray is that he must be healthy and strong and be granted a visa to go for the World meet in Brazil, without hurdles. (Papa and other athletes from Kerala didn't get their Visa to go to Europe for their 2007 World meet.) 

         My hearty congratulations to all the elderly people who went to Taipei and participated and won medals for their respective events. I appreciate and salute your spirit that leads you to distant places and strengthens you to finish your events. Most of all, I admire your focus and goal towards your purpose, without expecting to be in the limelight or being applauded in public.

         Thanks to the Senior Citizens' and Pensioners' associations and the Sports associations which encourage and support these people and their talents. I pray that God may provide Papa enough strength to run the race of life and on the way to cross the hurdles and win the prizes till the end.

His proud daughter.