Age has not withered their talents

Priyanka KURUGALA

Nirmal Kumar Dey won the first place in the discus throw among foreigners at the Sri Lanka Masters Athletics 26th (Open) Championship 2012 at the Sugathadasa Stadium on July 28 and 29 and won a gold medal.

Nirmal Kumar Dey and his wife Jyotirmaya Dey (Rana), famous athletes in their day, hailing from Jharkhand State in India visited Sri Lanka to participate in the Sri Lanka Masters Athletics 26th (open) Championship - 2012 .

Nirmal Kumar is a senior citizen and a social worker. He was bestowed with the Jharkhand Albert Ekka Award for sporting achievements. He is also a member of the world peace mission.

Now in his eighties, Nirmal Kumar is still an athlete which was his first love since his school days. His wife Jyotirmaya Dey who is now in her sixties, always supports and encourages him to participate in athletics and other extra curricular activities.

Nirmal Kumar Dey was born in Ranchi in 1928.

At the Sri Lanka Masters Athletics 26th (open) Championship -2012, he took part in the discus throw. His wife Jyotirmaya Dey (Rana) participated in the 100 mts dash.

Nirmal is of the view that age is not a barrier for him or his wife to participate in athletics. He enjoys competition despite his age and difficulties.

He has rendered a yeoman service to his motherland during the past six decades as a sportsman, coach, officer and manager.

He is also the recipient of the Great American Seal and the National Award of Steel Authority of India Limited for his contribution to sports and adventure.

Nirmal is the first to drive a vehicle from eastern India to Khaedund through the highest mountain road of the world in 1980. This is not his first visit to Sri Lanka.

He also went on the 'Sky to ocean' voyage on a motorcycle. Nirmal Kumar was the camp leader at the national trekking programme in Goa. He had organised trekking with Eskimos in Northern Sweden in 1983.

Nirmal Kumar Dey was also the coach of cricketer Ravi Shastri.

His wife is a talented singer and she has sung at many events in India and abroad. She is also keen to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination to Indians. The couple have four children.