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Journalism of Courage
A pall of gloom enveloped the National Games in Ranchi on Saturday with the death of the Kerala contingents chef de mission and the former chief athletics coach of India,Suresh Babu.The 58-year-old Babu,a two time Asian Games medalist and 1972 Olympic long-jumper,was rushed to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in the morning where he was put on life-support after he complained of pain and vomited blood. Doctors declared him dead around 11.30 am. Babu had been suffering from liver cirrhosis for some time and had a bout with jaundice some time back. He had been reluctant to accompany the state team for the National Games but agreed at the last minute.
The news of Babus death has come as a big jolt to Kerala athletes,currently dominating the field in the athletics event. Tony Daniel,AFI joint secretary and here as a deputy competitions manager,was with Babu when he passed away. He was very critical even when we rushed him to the hospital. The doctors tried to do their best but there was not much hope, Daniel said.
A flight has been chartered to take his body back home. Babu was an Arjuna Awardee and the national champion in the long jump,high jump and decathlon categories between 1972 and 1979. He won the bronze in decathlon in the 1974 Asian Games in Teheran and gold in the long jump at the 1978 Bangkok Games.
