Running mates for last 60 years

A husband and wife running combination isn’t all that unusual.What is, though, is that Krishna Chopra is 82, while her husband is 86. And they have been running for over 60 years now, reports Deepika Sharma.

It's a love story that has stood the test of time and age. It’s also a love story that is rooted in sport.

HT Image

On Saturday night, Krishna and Badrinath Chopra leave for Bangkok to take part in the Asian Masters athletics championships, where they will collectively take part in seven races.

A husband and wife running combination isn’t all that unusual.What is, though, is that Krishna Chopra is 82, while her husband is 86. And they have been running for over 60 years now.

“We were married in Lalpur (now Faisalabad in Pakistan) in 1945. Three years later, after we migrated to India, we ran a local race in Allahabad. That was when our love-affair with the track really began,” Badrinath told HT from his South Extension home here.

Originally a hockey player, he became passionate about running, and encouraged his wife to run as well. “The added bonus was that we got to spend time together.”

Badrinath, a World Masters Athletic gold medallist, a silver medallist at the Asiad Veterans and a National Veterans gold medalist, laughed when asked if health or age ever came in the way of running. “Not a thing. There’s nothing wrong with either of us, never been,” said the sprightly gentleman.

While they are going for gold and looking to add to their tally of a 182 medals, what they really want is have people realise age is just a number. “Just because you reach a certain age doesn’t mean you have to fade away,” said Badrinath.