Athletics
1982 Asian Games medallist Geeta Zutshi returns to Delhi track after 44 years
Decades after retiring from high performance sports, Geeta Zutshi is now competing in Masters meet across the globe.
A younger Geeta Zutshi and Geeta Zutshi at Masters Meet in Delhi
New Delhi: 44 years after she bagged a 1500m silver medal at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, Geeta Zutshi was back on an athletics track in the city, competing in a Masters meet.
"Oh my God. I didn’t even realize I was running in Delhi after 44 years," Geeta told The Bridge when the writer pointed the fact out to her.
"Now everything is flashing back – how I came to Delhi after attending almost a year-old coaching camp in Patiala and then taking oath on behalf of all the athletes – all like a dream for me," an emotional Geeta added.
As someone who watched her win an Asian Games 800m gold medal even earlier in 1978 at Bangkok, watching her back in action was no less exciting than Thomas Hardy’s The Return of The Native.
In Bangkok, Geeta and I had planned to go out shopping after her final. She had a little time to waste with a flight out of the city soon.
But just she finished her spectacular 800m race, a Chinese radio journalist followed her for an interview.
"Madam please," he said a couple of times and kept on insisting despite Geeta trying her best to avoid it with shopping on her mind.
"Tune isko kahan chipka liya apne saath [Why have taken along him with you?]," I asked her in a rather frustrating voice.
Much to our surprise, the very next moment the Chinese journalist replied, "Bhai sahab aise to mat bolo," in chaste Hindi.
"Pichle 14 varsh se Peking Radio ki Hindi Bhasha me Naukri kar raha hun (I have been working in the Hindi Department of Peking Radio for last 14 years)," he added.
The shopping trip was delayed as Geeta enjoyed her moment under the sun.
Geeta Zutshi on the podium after her win at the Masters Meet in Delhi (Photo credit: Norris Pritam/The Bridge)
Compare it to Friday at Mayur Vihar's Vinod Nagar Sports Complex where she won the Masters event, the reception was starkly different. There was neither a single spectator in sight to watch her win nor any Hindi-speaking Chinese journalist eager to interview her.
Perhaps her modest demeanor was also a reason why even the fellow oldies took some time to realise they had a celebrity sitting among them. Once the realisation dawned, there were requests for photo ops for which she gladly posed.
Spectator or no spectators – the now 69-year-old Geeta was in her elements.
"I ran here for fun," she said. "Two months back I was in Abu Dhabi for the Masters Games. There I had bought a pair of spikes and shorts.
"But I developed Sciatica pain in my right leg therefore today I just ran through the finish.
"I don’t think my timing of 3 minute 19 sec is all that bad,’’ she said with a smile after finishing comfortably ahead of her rivals.
Despite having left high performance sports decades ago, Geeta continues to run daily. But now, she doesn't have winning on her mind.
"I run almost every day but it is not training to win or anything. Actually years of running has taught me one very important thing and that is discipline. Young athletes should make it a habit of training every day," she said.
When asked what next, Geeta shot back: "I have to compete in a Masters Meet in Japan and then I will take part in the Masters Games in Ohio, USA."
"I would have loved to recall more on the good times I had as an active athlete but I came with my dog locked inside the house. He must be missing me,’’ she said before departing for Gurgaon – the city where it all began for the 17-year-old Geeta in 1973.