My Papa!! My Hero!! (part 2) ‘Report Card’ of an octogenarian

‘Report Card’ of an octogenarian: Written by Mr I Xavier

                       Name:             Poovathinkalmattackal Scaria John

                       Born on/@:      11 October 1929 / Uthimoodu, Ranni, Kerala

                       Profession:      Formerly Malayalam teacher and at present farmer

                       Specialist:       Hurdles, Long Jump, Steeple chase,

                       Credits:          103 Gold Medals, Silver and Bronze
                       Participation:   Sports Meets held at State, National and

                                             International levels, including World Masters

                                             Athletics Championships

        Born to a couple specializing agriculture and farming in 1929, Papa John started to grow on a hilltop. Losing his mother at a very tender age, and being the eldest sibling in the family, the responsibility of upbringing his three younger brothers, and the housekeeping, including cooking, fell on his shoulders. All the more determined he grew up along with his brothers.

        In the absence of proper road and bridges those days, climbing up and down the hillock en route to school on a daily basis, leaving no trees unclimbed in the forest, and leaping the brooks in order to cross them (and at times losing some of his stationeries down the stream…), greatly strengthened his physique. Joining the first batch of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) of Travancore helped to discipline him, while playing basket ball in the college team helped tone his muscles.

        Thus, Papa John started his athletic activities at the age of 23 in 1952. He participated in the 110 metres hurdles, 200 metres hurdles, steeple chase, long jump, 4 x 100 metres relay and long distance running. In spite of his ageing graciously, and even after his retirement from teaching Malayalam at school, he continued to take part regularly at the State level meets, National level and Asian level meets. So far he has participated in the Asian level meets held in Kuala Lumpur (2011), Chinese Taipei (2013) and finally his debut at the World Masters’ Athletic Championship held in Lyon (France) where he stood first in 200 metres hurdles, and 80 metres hurdles winning two gold medals and third in the long jump and received a bronze. Winning medals in the past 63 years and the weight of the collected metal almost outweighs his body weight.

        He is a voracious reader of contemporary magazines, novels, etc. During his college days he was more attracted by Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’. He kept the theme, characters and also the sequence of events taking place in and around Paris (France) in the good frame of his mind all these years which helped him understand the portrayal of the historian well during his recent visit to Paris to take part in the World Masters’ Athletic Championship in Lyon (France) between 4 and 16 August 2015.

        Having been adjudged the ‘Best Master Athlete 2015’ by the Asia Masters Athletics (AMA) following his spectacular performance in France is a feather in his cap.

        Papa John, at the age of 86 years, never sits idle at home. He looks after his rubber plantation, banana plantation and vegetable garden. He spends time with his poultry and livestock. He continues to maintain his physique by walking, cycling and swimming.

        What he wants to share with the younger generation are his experience with nature, cultivating good habits, discipline and respecting parents and time. Are we listening to him?

My Papa!! My Hero!! (Part 1)

Name: Poovathinkal Mattackal Scaria John (P. S. John)

MEDALS TALLY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

World Masters’ Athletic Championship, Lyon, France

From 04 to 16 August 2015

Sr No.      Year        Age Group              Event                            Time / Distance            Prize

1.              2015              M85           200 met. Hurdles                          50.68 sec.               Gold

2.              2015              M85           80 met. Hurdles                            21.78 sec.               Gold

3.              2015              M85           Long Jump                                    2.51 met.               Bronze

Asian Masters’ Athletic Championship, Taipei, Taiwan

Sr No.      Year        Age Group              Event                            Time / Distance            Prize

1.              2012              M80           80 met. Hurdles                            19.92 sec.              Gold

2.              2012              M80           200 met. Hurdles                          47.10 sec.              Gold

3.              2012              M80           2000 met. Steeplechase             14.06.90 min.             Gold

4.              2012              M80           Long Jump                                    2.94 met.         IV position

Asian Masters’ Athletic Championship, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sr No.      Year        Age Group              Event                            Time / Distance            Prize

5.              2010              M80           80 met. Hurdles                        19.64 sec.(NR)            Gold

6.              2010              M80           300 met. Hurdles                        1.23.29 min.              Gold

7.              2010              M80           Long Jump                                    3.06 met.               Bronze

Asian Masters’ Athletic Championship, Bangalore, India

Sr No.      Year        Age Group              Event                            Time / Distance            Prize

8.              2006             M75+         80 met. Hurdles                             18.8 sec.                Gold

9.              2006             M75+         300 met. Hurdles                         1.10.1 min.               Gold

Asian Masters’ Athletic Championship, Bangalore, India

Sr No.      Year        Age Group              Event                            Time / Distance            Prize

10.            2000             M70+         300 met. Hurdles                        1.05.01 min.             Bronze

National Masters’ Athletic Championship

Sr No.      Year        Age Group              Event                            Time / Distance            Prize

Bambolim Stadium, Panaji, Goa

1.              2015              M85           200 met. Hurdles                           55.6 sec.                 Gold

2.              2015              M85           80 met. Hurdles                             25.3 sec.                 Gold

3.              2015              M85           400 met. Race                              2.05.0 min.              Bronze

Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore

4.              2012              M80           200 met. Hurdles                           44.8 sec.                 Gold

5.              2012              M80           80 met. Hurdles                             20.1 sec.                 Silver

6.              2012              M80           200 met. Race                               38.25 sec.               Bronze

Chandigarh

7.              2011              M80           300 met. Hurdles                         1.20.0 min.               Gold

8.              2011              M80           Long Jump                                    3.10 met.               Bronze

9.              2011              M80           80 met. Hurdles                             19.3 sec.                Gold

Chennai

10.            2010              M80           300 met. Hurdles                         1.14.2 min.               Gold

11.            2010              M80           Long Jump                                    3.21 met.                Gold

12.            2010              M80           80 met. Hurdles                             20.2 sec.                 Gold

Guahati, Assam

13.            2008              M75           300 met. Hurdles                            1.12.66                  Silver

Pondicherry

14.            2006              M75           80 met. Hurdles                             19.0 sec.                 Gold

15.            2006              M75           300 met. Hurdles                                                         Gold

Chennai

16.            2005              M75           80 met. Hurdles                                                           Gold

17.            2005              M75           300 met. Hurdles                                                         Gold

Hyderabad

18.            2004              M70           300 met. Hurdles                        1.05.81 min.              Silver

Karnataka

19.            1996             M65+         100 met. Hurdles                                                        Bronze

Thiruvananthapuram

20.            1994             M60+         4x400 met. Relay                        5.17.3 min.              Silver

21.            1994             M60+         4x100 met. Relay                        1.01.3 min.              Bronze

Madurai

22.            1986             M55+         4x400 met. Relay                        5 min 9 sec.              Silver

Hyderabad (Lal Bahadur Stadium)

23.            1984             M55+         4x400 met. Relay                          58.9 sec.                Bronze

24             1984             M55+         400 met. Race                              1.11.0 min.             Silver

25.            1984             M55+         400 met. Hurdles                         1.23.8 min.              Silver

26.            1984             M55+         100 met. Hurdles                           20.4 sec.                Silver

27.            1984             M55+         4x400 met. Relay                        4.57.8 min.              Silver

Karnataka

28.            1983             M50+         400 met. Hurdles                         1.29.4 min.              Bronze

Kerala State Masters’ Athletic Championship

Sr No.      Year        Age Group              Event                            Time / Distance            Prize

Kozhikode

1.              2015              M85           200 met. Hurdles                          46.54 sec.                Gold

2.              2015              M85           100 met. Hurdles                          23.80 sec.                Gold

3.              2015              M85           400 met. Race                             2.01.81 min.             Gold

Kochi

4.              2013              M80           80 met. Hurdles                              22 sec.                  Gold

5.              2013              M80           100 met. Race                                16.7 sec.                Gold

6.              2013              M80           200 met. Hurdles                           46.5 sec.                 Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

7.              2012              M80           300 met. Hurdles                         1.22.9 min                Gold

8.              2012              M80           200 met. Hurdles                           39.1 sec.                 Gold

9.              2012              M80           80 met. Hurdles                             19.1 sec.                 Gold

Kannur

10.            2011              M80           80 met. Hurdles                                                            Gold

11.            2011              M80           Long Jump                                                                   Gold

Ernakulam

12.            2010              M80           Long Jump                                    3.20 met.                Gold

13.            2010              M80           300 met. Hurdles                         1.19.9 min.               Gold

14.            2010              M80           80 met. Hurdles                             20.1 sec.                 Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

15.            2009              M75           Long Jump                                    2.64 met.                Gold

16.            2009              M75           80 met. Hurdles                            20.90 sec.                Gold

17.            2009              M75           300 met. Hurdles                         1.27.8 min.               Gold

Kozhikode

18.            2008              M75           400 met. Race                                                             Gold

19.            2008              M75           300 met. Hurdles                        1.26.50 min.              Gold

20.            2008              M75           100 met. Hurdles                                                         Gold

Ernakulam

21.            2007              M75           400 met. Race                                                              Gold

22.            2007              M75           300 met. Hurdles                                                          Gold

23.            2007              M75           80 met. Hurdles                                                            Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

24.            2006              M75           200 met.                                         38.6 sec.                Gold

25.            2006              M75           300 met. Hurdles                         1.13.1 min.                Gold

26.            2006              M75           80 met. Hurdles                             19.6 sec.                 Silver

Ernakulam

27.            2005              M75           400 met. Race                              1.33.3 min.               Gold

28.            2005              M75           80 met. Hurdles                             19.4 sec.                 Gold

29.            2005              M75           300 met. Hurdles                         1.13.3 min.               Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

30.            2004              M70           80 met. Hurdles                            18.35 sec.                Silver

31.            2004              M70           300 met. Hurdles                        1.11.13 min.              Gold

32.            2004              M70           400 met. Race                                                             Gold

Kozhikode

33.            2003              M70           300 met. Hurdles                         1.08.6 min.               Gold

34.            2003              M70           80 met. Hurdles                             17.4 sec.                Gold

35.            2003              M70           400 met. Race                                                             Gold

Kottayam

36.            2002              M70           300 met. Hurdles                        1.09.02 min.              Gold

37.            2002              M70           80 met. Hurdles                             18.6 sec.                 Gold

38.            2002              M70           400 met. Race                              1.25.5 min.               Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

39.            2001              M70           80 met. Hurdles                             19.2 sec.                Gold

40.            2001              M70           400 met. Hurdles                         1.45.0 min.               Gold

41.            2001              M70           400 met. Race                              1.32.6 min.              Gold

42.            2000              M70           400 met. Race                              1.18.9 min.               Gold

43.            2000              M70           100 met. Race                                16.7 sec.                 Gold

44.            2000              M70           200 met. Race                                34.9 sec.                 Gold

Palakkad

45.            1999              M65           300 met. Hurdles                                                          Gold

46.            1999              M65           100 met. Hurdles                           22.1 sec.                 Silver

47.            1999              M65           400 met. Race                              1.25.6 min.               Gold

Kollam

48.            1998              M65           400 met. Race                              1.23.5 min.               Gold

49.            1998              M65           300 met. Hurdles                         1.9.23 min.               Gold

50.            1998              M65           5 km Walk                                    37.38 min.               Silver

Trissur

51.            1997              M65           100 met. Hurdles                           22.6 sec.                 Silver

52.            1997              M65           400 met. Race                              1.15.9 min.               Gold

53.            1997              M65           400 met. Hurdles                         1.02.9 min.               Gold

Kottayam

54.            1996              M65           300 met. Hurdles                          59.00 sec.                Gold

55.            1996              M65           100 met. Hurdles                           22.2 sec.                 Gold

56.            1996              M65           400 met. Race                              1.17.3 min.               Silver

Pathanamthitta

57.            1995              M65           400 met. Hurdles                         1.35.8 min.               Gold

58.            1995              M65           110 met. Hurdles                          22.36 sec.                Gold

59.            1995              M65           400 met. Race                             1.23.18 min.              Silver

Idukki

60.            1994             M60+         400 met. Race                              1.18.4 min.               Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

61.            1993              M60           400 met. Race                              1.16.7 min.               Silver

Kannur

62.            1992              M60           400 met. Race                                                             Bronze

63.            1992              M60           100 met. Hurdles                                                          Gold

64.            1992              M60           300 met. Hurdles                                                          Silver

Thiruvananthapuram

65.            1991             M60+         800 met. Race                              3.13.1 min.               Gold

66.            1991             M60+         110 met. Hurdles                           21.3 sec.                 Silver

67.            1991             M60+         400 met. Hurdles                         1.21.2 min.                  

Ernakulam

68.            1990             M60+         400 met. Race                                                              Silver

69.            1990             M60+         110 met. Hurdles                                                          Silver

Quilon

70.            1989             M55+         110 met. Hurdles                           27.5 sec.                 Gold

71.            1989             M55+         400 met. Hurdles                         1.38.4 min.               Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

72.            1988             M55+         400 met. Race                                                              Silver

73.            1988             M55+         10 km Walk                                  14.17.26.6                Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

74.            1987             M55+         400 met. Hurdles                         1.24.8 min.               Gold

75.            1987             M55+         400 met. Race                              1.12.5 min.               Gold

76.            1987             M55+         110 met. Hurdles                           24.4 sec.                 Silver

77.            1987             M55+         800 met. Race                    3.4.4 min. (RECORD)      Gold

Thiruvananthapuram

78.            1986             M55+         800 met.                                  3.24.9 min. (NR)           Gold

79.            1986             M55+         400 met. Hurdles                         1.30.5 min.               Silver

80.            1986             M55+         110 met. Hurdles                           24.9 sec.                 Silver

Thiruvananthapuram

81.            1985             M55+         400 met. Race                              1.12.2 min.               Silver

82.            1985             M55+         800 met. Race                               55.59 sec.                Gold

83.            1985             M55+         400 met. Hurdles                          55.59 sec.                Gold

84.            1985             M55+         110 met. Hurdles                           23.7 sec.                 Silver

Inter-School Athletic Meet

1.              1981                               200 met. Race                                                              Silver

2.            1979-80          M40+         3000 met. Walk                                                            Silver

3.            1979-80          M40+         1500 met. Race                                                           Bronze

4.            1978-79          M40+         3000 met. Walk                                                            Gold

5.            1977-78          M40+         3000 met. Walk                                                            Gold

Kerala Schools Championships for Teachers, GMHS, Kanjirapally Dist. Schools Athletic Meet

1.            1977-78                             Shot Put                                                                      Bronze

2.              1976                                3000 met. Walk                                                            Gold

3.            1976-77          M40+         3000 met. Walk                                                            Silver

4.            1975-76                             3000 met. Walk                                                            Gold

5.            1975-76                             1500 met. Race                                                           Bronze

YMCA, Kottayam, All Kerala Sports

1.              1953                                Cross Country                                                              Silver

Travancore-Cochin Olympic Association 1952, Trivandrum,  Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium

1.              1952                                110 met. Hurdles                                                          Silver

Championship                Gold          Silver                     Bronze                Total

World                               2                                            1

Asiad                                7                                            2

National                           12            9                              7

State                                64            18                            1

Others                               4             5                             3

                                       89            32                           14                       135