What does age have to do with it? This may sound like a preposterous question to a general audience. But not when K. Subramanian is around! The 87-year-old noted athletics coach based in the city truly believes in the adage that age is just a number, and for good reason too. At this age, Subbu – or Subbu Sir as he is affectionately known to his wards – still actively indulges in his passion, which is athletics. He coaches and has over the years nurtured severalleading athletes like the 1982 Asian Games triple jump bronze medallist S. Balasubramaniam, SAF Games long jump silver medallist P.M. Rosily, and former India cricketer Susan Itticheria (now Susan Pallikal, mother of the squash ace Dipika Pallikal) among others.
Incredibly, Subbu doesn’t just coach but also joins his wards in exercises like high jumps, triple jumps and running. He also makes it a point to compete – not on a small scale or local level, but in the international arena. Only last month, Subbu took part in the World Master Athletics Championship held in Gothenburg, Sweden and came back with 4 medals – Gold in the 4 x 400m Relay, Silvers in Triple Jump and 200m Hurdles and Bronze in the 4 x 100m Relay in the 85 years and above category. He has been active in veteran sports for a long time, in fact – his first venture was back in 1983 when he took part in the World Veteran’s Meet held in Puerto Rico, following which he participated in many Asian and World championship meets. He may be clearing just 1 metre in High Jump and a little over 6 metres in Triple Jump but the numbers are striking considering his age.
How does he maintain this level of efficiency? Simple, he says. “I joined ICF decades back, and have never stopped athletics training since then. In a way, jumping and running have become second nature to me.” The practice continues. He later associated himself as a coach with the Don Bosco Athletics Club. Where he lives in Ayanavaram, he is a source of inspiration to many people for his steady and speedy morning walks. Such is his confidence that once in recent times when he had suffered an injury to his knee, a doctor had advised him to avoid all stressors and take more rest considering his age. Subbu just walked away to an acupuncture specialist, received care to the pain and resumed training. The Gothenburg meet had come thereafter!
The only problem he had faced was one of finance. Raising a sum of roughly three lakhs (which is what he spent for the Sweden trip) was not easy. With no support from the government, Subbu and the many others who had accompanied him to Sweden had to pay their own way. Yet, his enthusiasm remains undimmed. Subbu says he looks forward to a future where he hopes to do even better.