Cdr (Rtd) V Sriramulu, a fierce athlete has bagged a silver medal in the 10 kilometres race at the 2018 World Masters Athletics Championships (WMAC) in Malaga, Spain. His interest in sports goes back to World World II days when he was in the Royal Indian Navy. As a naval officer, he took part in sailing expeditions and competitions and post-retirement he picked up mountaineering and race walking in Visakhapatnam.
“Actually, I’m 95 years old. But on paper I am a year younger,” he reveals. He adds, “That cost me a promotion and it has made me participate in a younger category!”
Drill before the events
The WMAC, an annual sports competition for people who are 35 years and above took place from September 4 to 16 at Malaga. Siramulu wanted to reach there on September 1 to give himself time to acclimatize in the new city and practise for few days. However, his visa was approved only on September 5 because of which he missed his favourite event - the five kilometres race walking.
“I could book my tickets as soon as I got my visa. But many athletes from India couldn’t make it because of the visa mix-up,” says Sriramulu.
Spanish story
The retired Royal Indian Navy Commander reached Malaga on September 8 just a day prior to the 10-kilometre race walking. “It was a challenging race because I had got off a long flight, with little sleep and no time to practise before the event.” In the race, there were five participants, one each from United States, Finland, China, Spain and India.
While he understood that the organisers of the event must have had their work cut out, Sriramulu was strident about certain things that could have been avoided. “Such incidents don’t give a good image about India,” he said. He was referring to the the incident involving the 102-year old Man Kaur. “She was the oldest woman participant and won several medals for India. But during the award ceremony the Indian representatives didn’t give her a national flag!” Luckily, Sriramulu was carrying the national flag that he offered her. He also wished WMAC had relaxed a few rules, especially for those in the above-90 category. “In the final event of the 20-kilometre race walking, there were only two participants, me and another participant from Finland. Both of us were disqualified because of the knee lock rule (the advancing leg must be straight)!”
But this has not stopped Sriramulu from looking ahead. It’s been less than three weeks since he returned and he already has plans for the 2019 WMAC in Kuala Lumpur . This time, along with field events, he is planning to participate in discus throw, shot put and javelin.
Short(s) and sweet!
Sriramulu shares an anecdote from the 2016 WMAC in Perth. He had left his official bib behind in India and without it he may not have been permitted to participate. But he managed to convince the official at the stadium that he forgot the bib at the hotel. The official believed him and allowed Sriramulu to take part wearing the official national tracksuit. “The jacket was long and it looked like I wasn’t wearing shorts! But at that stage, I couldn’t have cared less, I was just so thankful to start the race!,” he laughs. Of course, he won that race and says he got a standing ovation.
Winning streak
2010 Gold medals in 400m, 800m, 1500m run and five kilometre race walk at the Asian Masters Athletic Championships, Kuala Lumpur
2011 Gold medal in 20 kilometres race walk and silver medals in five kilometres and 10 kilometres race walk respectively at WMAC, California
2015 Gold medal in 10 kilometres race walk at WMAC, Lyon
2016 Gold medal in five kilometres race walk at Asia Masters Athletics Championships. Later that year, he added three gold medals in five, 10, 20 kilometres race walk at WMAC, Perth and was recognised as the Athlete of Asia 2016
Walk of fame
Last year, Tom Bosworth, British Olympian broke the 27-year-old world record in one-mile race walking by crossing the finish line in five minutes and 31.08 seconds