Age cannot wither this veteran athlete

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Poovathunkal  Scaria John, 85, a retired Malayalam teacher of Kanjirapally, is an athletic enigma. He has come back from Lyons in France after winning two gold medals in hurdles and a bronze in long jump at the World Masters Athletics Championship held from August 4 to 16. He practises during the season and at other times does farming in his five-acre land.

The locals gave him a rousing reception when he returned from Lyons the other day. He was  a bit  disappointed that he could not match  Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s record while winning the 100-metre World Championship, but he says  there is always a next time.

Out of the six medals won by the 90-plus Indian contingent,   John’s tally of three was the maximum number by an athlete. His son, Roy Mattackal, a businessman based in Kottayam,  recalled that while  leaving for Lyons, his father was not hopeful of winning any medals. But he won the  gold beating  Japanese veteran Munehiro Toriya, 86, by six seconds in the 80-metre short hurdles.

“I keep practising at St. Dominic’s College at Kanjirapally during the season for one-and-a-half hours. It is the  life in the village which keeps me fit  to pursue athletics even at this age. I never expected to win at Lyons,”  said John.

He  came third in long jump behind German and Brazil veterans.  He  also took  part in steeple chase and long jump.  He has participated in over  30 national events  and in five international championships and won  several medals.  

John also plays basketball. He has fond memories of  G. Thomas, former Indian athletic coach,  who was his  friend. John and his wife Annamma look after their farm land which is rich with rubber trees, coconut palms, vegetables, livestock and epiculture.