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It has been 10 years since I last participated in an Asian Veterans Championship (AVC) event but I vividly recall my first exposure to the AVC on December 3, 1988. Just the previous day I had completed 35 years which was the qualifying age for the competition. And thus I was promptly labeled "Baby of the Meet” at the AVC in Tainan, Taiwan.
This maiden experience was eventful. I had not left along with the Indian contingent as my son Jahan was very ill. When I arrived in Tainan, I informed the Indian team manager, but when the 100 m event participant’s numbers were announced I realized that my number was missing. On fervent enquiry I was told that the leader of the Indian team had, by mistake, cancelled my entry!
Much talk and altercations later Chi Cheng (Asia’s number one sprinter) who was the organizing secretary of the Championship, intervened and said I could run the race. If I won, I would not receive a medal but I would get a copy of the official result sheet as proof of performance. Remember this was my first international meet. I was a bag of mixed emotions — nervous, excited, disappointed and raring to go. I agreed, ran and won. No medal, but the result sheet was presented to me.
My events were the 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, long jump and triple jump. I won medals in all my events and then the India team won gold in both the 100 m and 400 m relays. In fact, after the initial problem regarding my participation, the main organizing team, comprising only women, became so friendly that when it was time to leave at 4 a.m., the ladies were there at the bus to see us off, with flowers and a gift. We were really overwhelmed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My husband Noomi had accompanied me on this trip and everyone thought he was the athlete! A local newspaper even interviewed him and ran an article on him. He was very popular in Tainan; all the school children insisted he autograph their caps and t-shirts.
This was my debut, the start of the over 80 international medals won, new Asian records set in the 400 m and triple jump, and being the flag bearer of the Indian contingent and taking the oath on behalf of all the athletes at the Asian Masters Meet in Bangalore, 2006. In the intervening years I participated in Veterans meets at Eugene (USA), Kuala Lumpur, Turku, Finland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarata, Buffalo, Seoul, Brisbane, Dalian (China) and Bangkok. At the 17th Malaysian Open Masters Athletic Championship in December 2004, I was awarded two trophies — Champion of the Meet and Best Female Athlete.
At the 10th World Veterans Championship at Miyazaki, Japan in 1993, I had booked myself into a hotel, but when I saw the city I knew I had to shift to the university accommodation where most of the athletes were housed. No one spoke English, all signs were in Japanese and I got instantly lost.
So I called the agent to arrange the transfer. I was packed and ready and told him "Let’s go in your car” when he astounded me by saying he only had a bicycle. Any -way, we reached the university. Now I had to find my friends! The hotel manager handed me a microphone and in sign language told me to call out my friends’ names. Unbelievably, I got an instant response and I stayed with them throughout.
When in Okinawa, Japan for the AVC in 1998, we stayed far away from the stadium; almost an hour by bus. The bus to and from the venue was always packed to overflowing. This was a very rare sight in Okinawa and the local people would point out to us, stare and then wave as we went past. We were hit by a typhoon during the meet so the entire stadium was speedily cleared. We were rushed back to our hotels and told not to venture out until the typhoon had passed.
It is always advisable to stay at campus, either university or stadium accommodation. Besides being more fun, as all the athletes are together, one avoids the tension of getting to the stadium on time. Everything is within walking distance.
When we attended meets at different cities, we were always treated as guests of the city and encouraged to use the local transport system. We would hop on and off buses and go on different routes to cover the entire city this way. I have a group of friends in the Masters circuit with whom I keep in touch.
I am also proud of the 800 m record that I had created at the Jal D. Pardivala All Parsees Annual Athletic Meet in 1993 and which continues to stand to this day.
At the age of 40+ Noomi challenged me to win the women’s challenge cup.All Parsis did not have a 400 m event. I took up the challenge, trained for 800 m, javelin, shotput and discus. Hurdles I had to pass, as the distance between the hurdles was different for my age. I finally won that trophy which was a sweet victory at that time.
While attending all these championship meets all over the world, the one lesson I have learnt is that people everywhere are the same. It’s a world community. In fact, the closing day’s march past sees all the athletes walking together, not by country, but by age. The message is clear. We are one.