Breaking his own record, Kiwi Indian senior citizen Tapendra Singh Sokhi from Auckland has bagged eight medals at the South Island Masters Athletic Championship 2020 held in Dunedin earlier last weekend.

Tapendra Singh, 67, competing in the 65-69 years category won in all but one game he participated in breaking his previous record of six medals at the Taranaki Master Games just before the lockdown in March this year.

Representing Auckland’s Pakuranga Athletic Club at this Masters Championship, Mr Singh stood 1st in Long Jump, 2nd in 60 metres race, 3rd in each of Weight Throw, Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, Shot Put, 100-metre race, and third again in Weight Throw-Pentathlon.

In the Weight Throw Pentathlon that comprises of five different events such as Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, Shot Put, Javelin and Weight Throw, participants are awarded points based on which the final score is prepared, and Mr Singh landed 3rd in that sport as well.

The only place he missed to make a mark was the Javelin throw where he stood fourth.
 

 
Mr Singh, an Indian Army veteran, had secured three medals at the NZ Master Games in 2018 and had represented India in the Australia Masters Games in 2001.

Speaking to the Indian Weekender, Mr Singh said he had been an active athlete for more part of his life and post lockdown.

“I follow a daily regime of running, and exercise and practice javelin, discus throw and shot put at different intervals to keep my body competition ready.

“Winning eight medals and breaking my own previous record is a good feeling, and I want to encourage people of my age and younger to maintain a steady routine of running and exercise to keep themselves fit and healthy,” Mr Singh added.

Article first published on 19th November 2020 by Rizwan Mohammad in The Indian Weekender.

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