3 Himachal athletes to represent India at World Masters Athletics Championships in Sweden

MANDI: In a landmark achievement for Himachal Pradesh, three athletes from the state have been selected to represent India at the World Masters Athletics Championships, set to take place in Gothenburg, Sweden, from August 13 to 25, 2024. This marks a historic first, as athletes from Himachal will compete on this prestigious global stage.

The selected athletes — Surinder Singh Dehal from Hamirpur, Ashwini Kumar Sharma from Una and Dwarika Thakur from Kullu — will embark on their journey to Sweden from Delhi on August 11, 2024. Competing across various age categories, the athletes will showcase their talents in several track events.

Surinder Singh Dehal will participate in the 5,000m and 10,000m races, Ashwini Kumar Sharma in the 1,500m, 2,000m steeplechase, 800m and cross country events, while Dwarika Thakur will contend in the 800m, 1,500m and 5,000m races.

Before their departure, the athletes, accompanied by members of the Masters Athletics Federation Himachal Pradesh, met with Hamirpur MLA Ashish Sharma. Expressing his pride, MLA Sharma stated, “This is a momentous occasion for Himachal Pradesh.

For the first time, our athletes will compete in a world championship of such magnitude. These athletes are a testament to the fact that age is no barrier to achieving excellence. They inspire not only the youth but society as a whole. I wish them success and have full confidence that they will bring glory to both India and Himachal with their exceptional performances.”

Ripudaman Kaushik, president of the Masters Athletics Federation of Himachal Pradesh, highlighted the significance of the championship, noting that this is the 25th edition of the World Masters Athletics Championships, which began in Toronto in 1975. This year, the event will see participation from over 7,000 athletes representing more than 100 countries, including 100 athletes from India.
The Himachal athletes earned their selection through stellar performances at the 44th National Master Athletics Competition held in Pune in February 2024, where they secured a total of eight medals. Their outstanding achievements at the national level paved the way for their qualification for the World Masters Athletics Championships.

Over the past two months, the selected athletes have undergone rigorous training on the synthetic track in Hamirpur. Under the expert guidance of Dr Raj Rana, head of the Masters Athletics District Hamirpur, and secretary Nitin Dogra, the athletes have been meticulously preparing for the challenges of the international arena.

During a send-off ceremony, Dr Sushil Sharma and other dignitaries honored the athletes, recognising their dedication and accomplishments.

The Masters Athletics Federation of Himachal Pradesh, affiliated with the Masters Athletics Federation of India (MAFI), Asian Masters Athletics (AMA), and World Masters Athletics (WMA), remains the sole body authorized to submit entries for athletes aged 30 and above from the state to national and international competitions.

Through persistent efforts, the federation has been instrumental in elevating Himachal’s athletes to achieve success at both Asian and World Championships, bringing pride to the state.