Grandma gives athletes a ‘run’ for their money

Age hasn’t slowed her down a bit. And that’s evident from the many national and international sports events that she has been participating. The Punjabi grandma, Mann Kaur, has proved that age is just a number that should never get in the way of your fitness and strength. In a chat with DT Next, the centenarian opens up about the reason for taking up running at the age of 93 and how it changed her outlook about health and life. 

“I am actually a late entrant to athletics. It was my son Gurdev, who advised me to take up running. I was 93 when I took up athletics and since then, there has been no looking back. I feel more lively and happy after taking up running,” says Mann, who was in the city to be a part of an event organised by Pinkathon. She was accompanied by her 80-year-old son Gurdev who also doubles up as her trainer. 

The oldest athlete in India started practising on the tracks of Punjab University, Patiala, nine years ago. “My day starts at 5 in the morning. After my morning rituals, we head to the stadium and spend almost three to four hours there. I run five sprints of 50, 40 or 30 metres. After which I do some basic exercises with other trainees from the University. They love spending time with me because I tell them interesting stories from my childhood,” laughs Mann. 

Her son Gurdev Singh, is also an athlete, who was silently listening to his mother, joins the conversation. He says, “I am very happy that my mother could be an inspiration to many people in the country. At the 2017 World Masters Games, considered as the Olympics for veterans, in Auckland, New Zealand, she broke her own world record and clinched a gold medal in 100 metres. Every time before a championship starts I ask her if she is really ready for it – her answer would be just a smile. My mother’s will power and never-give up attitude are the two strong abilities that keep her going.”   

Quiz the world’s fastest centenarian about her diet regimen and she enthusiastically says, “I follow a healthy diet and that’s what gives me the energy to run. After waking up I have a glass of kefir, a fermented milk drink. It is a good source of probiotics and calcium. My diet mostly includes chapati made from sprouted wheat, vegetables, wheatgrass juice, soya milk, various nuts and seeds.” 

Currently, Mann is training for the World Masters Athletics to be held in Spain in September. “I am not doing any extra training as such. But just focusing on not giving too much stress on my back and improve the timing,” asserts the grandma.