For young’ Karunakaran age is no bar

Kozhikode, March 4: Captain C K Nair loves challenges. In fact, he thrives on them. At an age when most others would love to stay home lo...

Kozhikode, March 4: Captain C K Nair loves challenges. In fact, he thrives on them. At an age when most others would love to stay home looking after their grandchildren and tell them glorified tales of their teenage adventures, the 85-year old retired Army captain finds enough time to cut his teeth on the track and field.

For Cheruveettilkandiyil Karunakaran Nair, life on the track remains a passion — a love affair that goes on and on, gaining strength on its way.“It is quite unfortunate that athletes above the age of 75 are not permitted to take part in the hurdles at the State veterans meet owing to the risk factor involved,” says Nair, who completed a golden treble at the State meet recently at Palakkad, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m.

“Hurdles has always been my pet event and I was hoping to compete in the 80m hurdles. The rules did not permit me to take part in the jump events too as we were not allowed to compete in more than three events,” adds the never-say-die sportsman who is lookingforward to repeat his feat at the forthcoming Veterans Nationals. “I hope, the ban on hurdles will be lifted in the Nationals.”

Story continues below this ad

A regular at the veterans’ Nationals right from 1983 to 1997, Nair, however, had to skip the meet last year owing to domestic reasons.’ “This year too, most of my family members were against me taking part in the State meet, as I had been advised rest following a surgery. But, when the track beckons, how can I say no ?” asks Nair with a disarming smile.

He had clocked 17.2 secs in 100m, 53.0 in 200m and 2.12:0 in 400m at the Palakkad meet, and hopes to do better in the Nationals.

Over the past 16 years, the Captain has never returned empty-handed from the Nationals. “I have been among the first two spots in every event that I took part,” says the veteran with a glint in his eyes. Led by Nair, the Kerala veterans had won the overall championship at the Bhopal Nationals in 1989.

Nair was selected to the National team for the World Veterans Championships at Puerto Rico(1986) and Oregon, USA (1989). On both occasions, he failed to make it due to the lack of sponsors. “The money involved was quite big, and none were interested. Who would want to sponsor these old warhorses?,” he asks with a tinge of sadness.

Story continues below this ad

Captain Nair knows well that unlike in the European countries and the US, the veteran sportsmen get little recognition in India. Nobody bothers whether you win or lose. There are no words of appreciation either.“But I have no complaints,” says Nair. “I love the sport, and above all, it gives me a golden chance to meet people from different walks of life.” Nair will be one of the oldest participants in the Nationals veterans meet this year.

Karunakaran Nair joined the British Army as a clerk in 1935. After quitting the services in 1969, he joined the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and retired as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1974.

Nair has already started his preparations for the National meet, the venue of which is yet to be decided. The secret of hishealth ? “Though I am a non-vegetarian, quite rarely do I have meat. I am not a heavy eater. By God’s grace, I am in the pink of my health and raring to go too.”

The octogenarian is all geared up for yet another race — against the clock; against his age.