No age limit for the racing spirit

More than 300 volunteers comprising young and old, enthusiastically, took part in the third annual walking race organised by Sankey Park Walkers' Association on Sunday.

The walkers, braving the cold, strolled through the park covering a distance of one km as part of the event. The race that started at 6.45 am was flagged off by Malleswaram MLA Dr C N Ashwath Narayan.

Participants aged between 21 and 80 years were divided into seven groups based on their age. “We have been holding the race every year to inculcate the habit of walking and also to encourage it as a recreational activity,” said Sankey Park Walkers’ Association president A R Anand. The association, with B R Vijayakumar as its founder secretary, presently has over 800 walkers as its members, he said.

Apart from the race, a musical chair competition was organised to add more fun to the event.

Sharath Chandra, 61, a private company employee who won the third prize in the 60-70 age group, said that he thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the race. “It was a jubilant gathering of all the walkers,” he remarked.

Jagadevi Hiremath, a government school teacher who won the first prize in the musical chair event, said that she had a good time at the event. 

The highlight of the competition was senior citizens Vaidyanathan and Ramachandran, who won the first place in the 80 years and above category.