THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sheeba, 38, hails from Kollam, Kerala and earns a living by working in cashew factories and nearby farmlands. She is also an athlete who has won numerous awards at Veteran athletic meets in and outside the country.
Her favourite disciplines include marathon and 5000m running and walking and has now registered for the 22nd Asian Masters Athletics Championships to be held in the Philippines in November this year.
“I have been told it will cost Rs 1.50 lakh and I don’t have the money for it. In the past, I have taken part in similar meets held in Sri Lanka, Brunei and a few other countries,” said Sheeba.
It was at the age of 33 that Sheeba started to take part in Veteran Athletic meets.
“Initially, people started making fun of me, why I am doing all this at this age, but soon when I started returning with medals, many have started to support me,” said Sheeba, whose small house is decorated with numerous medals that she has won.
“Now I don’t have any more space to keep medals, so I have to keep them in bags,” and emptied one bag to show the medals.
And when asked about her preparations, she said her work in the farmlands as a labourer is very good strength training. Apart from that she does jogging and running. IANS
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