Driven by passion & sharpened by technology, 75-year-old Kurian is making waves
KOCHI: Better late than never! Technology has not been kind to the elderly, but then there are those among this demographic who have overcome feelings of dread and insufficiency to make it work for them.
Take the case of 75-year-old Kurian Jacob, a late bloomer who views the achievements in his 'sunset years' as worth the wait. An ace swimmer, he bagged nine medals including two individual gold—at the World Masters Games held in Taipei, Taiwan last month.
Born in Thidanadu, Kanjirapally, Kurian never cared to take up swimming—something that he was first exposed to as an infant in the river next to his house—as a sport until later in life. 'The activity remained an integral part of my life. But I never thought of turning professional, until my retirement,' he says.
At the World Masters, which also featured former Olympians and world champions, Kurian won gold in the 200m freestyle pool and 3km open water events. He also medalled in two men's relays and mixed relays, besides the 100m and 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke. The swimming competition featured around 2,500 athletes.
'For nine months, I regularly practised the 3km swim in pools, rivers and in the open sea to condition myself to withstand heavy currents and build strength. I believe that the dedication has paid off,' Kurian points out.
Kurian worked abroad with Standard Chartered Bank for many years before settling in Kochi in 2017.
In 2019, he heard about the state masters championship from friends who were preparing to compete in the event. 'I was 69 when I first participated in a professional competition. Victories there took me to the nationals, where I was unable to find my true form. In fact, this setback ,the motivation for me achieve more,' he said.
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New Indian Express
19 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Driven by passion & sharpened by technology, 75-year-old Kurian is making waves
KOCHI: Better late than never! Technology has not been kind to the elderly, but then there are those among this demographic who have overcome feelings of dread and insufficiency to make it work for them. Take the case of 75-year-old Kurian Jacob, a late bloomer who views the achievements in his 'sunset years' as worth the wait. An ace swimmer, he bagged nine medals including two individual gold—at the World Masters Games held in Taipei, Taiwan last month. Born in Thidanadu, Kanjirapally, Kurian never cared to take up swimming—something that he was first exposed to as an infant in the river next to his house—as a sport until later in life. 'The activity remained an integral part of my life. But I never thought of turning professional, until my retirement,' he says. At the World Masters, which also featured former Olympians and world champions, Kurian won gold in the 200m freestyle pool and 3km open water events. He also medalled in two men's relays and mixed relays, besides the 100m and 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke. The swimming competition featured around 2,500 athletes. 'For nine months, I regularly practised the 3km swim in pools, rivers and in the open sea to condition myself to withstand heavy currents and build strength. I believe that the dedication has paid off,' Kurian points out. Kurian worked abroad with Standard Chartered Bank for many years before settling in Kochi in 2017. In 2019, he heard about the state masters championship from friends who were preparing to compete in the event. 'I was 69 when I first participated in a professional competition. Victories there took me to the nationals, where I was unable to find my true form. In fact, this setback ,the motivation for me achieve more,' he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Training , monies and more: What it takes to summit the Everest
The Mt Everest summit has been the ultimate goal of every mountaineer for ages now. The gruelling climb has claimed many lives – including that of 45-year-old Bengal climber Subrata Ghosh, who succumbed to altitude sickness and exhaustion after making it to the summit on May 15. But that hasn't deterred others. In fact, according to a report in The Rising Nepal , which cites records from Nepal's department of tourism, 402 climbers from 53 countries – including 74 women – have received climbing permits for this spring. Here's what mountaineers had to say about it. 'The best training is to be in the mountains' Climbing to the Everest summit pushes ones body and mind to the limit, so the right preparation is sacrosanct. Satyarup Siddhanta, 42, prepared for the climb with cardio, cycling, yoga, swimming, and strength training. 'With oxygen levels at a third of sea level and temperatures potentially fatal, it's the mind that gets you through crevasses, exhaustion, and biting cold,' he says. Saanchi, who attempted the summit at 19, agrees. 'High-altitude conditioning matters more than gym routines. The best training is being in the mountains; acclimatisation is everything.' For Pratima Rai, 21, an NCC cadet from Darjeeling and the first from Bengal to summit the peak, training was an initiation into the harsh realities of mountaineering – glacier climbs, rock and ice techniques, and surviving at 40 degrees berlow zero. 'It was brutal, but necessary,' she says. 'Trusting your sherpa is a must' Climbing Everest can be life-changing, but not always in the ways climbers imagine. Rumpa Das knows this all too well. Her 2020 expedition was cancelled due to the pandemic, and in 2021, she went down with COVID during another attempt, requiring evacuation from Camp 2 with dangerously low oxygen levels. But she refused to let go of the dream. Despite ongoing funding hurdles – especially in Bengal – she kept looking for opportunities. 'This time, I kept asking my Sherpa if I could do it. My trainer always said, 'Trust your Sherpa'. And I did. On May 15 at 10.50am, I stood on the summit, exhausted and uncertain, but carried, step by step, by my Sherpa.' Satyarup's 2015 expedition was halted by the Nepal earthquake and their funds depleted. When he finally resumed, he faced a series of critical incidents: his oxygen mask failed, another team used their oxygen without consent at Camp 4, and he survived a 30-minute fall into a crevasse. Even his summit photo was allegedly misused by another climber. Saanchi didn't reach the summit, but gained perspective. 'Like Olympians who train for years without medals, the journey shaped me.' She has since summited Europe's highest peak, scaled Australia's top 10 in 50 hours, and completed 6,000-metre climbs in Ladakh and Spiti. Pratima's story included a brush with death. 'I saw a man collapse and die in front of me. It was terrifying. But I stayed calm. We anticipated crowding, so we started the summit push early, around 6.30-7pm, and reached the top by 3am on May 18. It was pitch dark, and I was alone with my Sherpa, but I knew I had made it.' 'Behind every summit is a team that believes in you' Behind every summit lies a strong support network. Families dip into savings, friends raise funds, and communities rally. Rumpa's journey was tough. 'All my money went into climbing. Sponsorships are rare in Bengal. My mother told me, 'Money comes and goes, but your strength won't last forever.' My husband even mortgaged our house to support me.' Pratima credits her NCC team for training and encouragement, while Saanchi relied on mentors. What it takes to climb the Everest Climbing Everest is a complex logistical feat, relying on an extensive support network—from permits to oxygen cylinders. Satyarup explains, 'Each season, 400–500 climbers rely on expedition companies that handle permits take care of the expedition.' Though Pratima's NCC-backed expedition provided institutional support, the pressure remained intense. 'We built in extra days to manage weather and risks. Only the fittest continued. ' Key aspects include: Permit cost: $15,000 per climber, plus government and expedition fees Total expense: ₹40–45 lakh (gear, logistics, Sherpa fees) Training: Cardio, strength, high-altitude conditioning, mountaineering courses Support: Sherpas, medical staff, rope-fixing teams, and SPCC waste management Risks: Oxygen failure, altitude sickness, crevasses, severe weather, overcrowding 'Everest is a mountaineer's dream' Even with technically tougher peaks out there, Everest remains the ultimate symbol of aspiration. 'It's still the dream,' says Pawel Sharma, chief instructor at a mountaineering institute. 'For many, it's not just about passion—it's about career and credibility. When institutes ask, 'How many peaks have you climbed?' Everest always tops the list. Today, people aren't just chasing a bucket-list tick—they want to live what they've seen on screen. ' That dream, however, comes with its share of harsh realities. Rumpa Das understood them deeply. 'Mountaineering isn't for everyone—the mountains don't accept everyone,' she says. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Pioneer hockey coach Pratima Barwa, who produced players like Salima Tete & Sangeeta Kumari, no more
Pratima Barwa, a hockey coach who trained many adivasi girls in Jharkhand and helped shape Olympians like Salima Tete, Sangita Kumari and Beauty Dungdung, has passed away at the age of 46 following a brain hemorrhage at a Ranchi hospital. Barwa, a native of Kocha village in Khunti's Torpa block, had suffered a seizure on May 27 while holding her infant son in her arms. She breathed her last on Sunday morning after surviving for four days in the ICU. Her funeral was held at her village in the evening. Khunti, known for its rich tribal identity, has long been a cradle of Indian hockey. It was from this very region that Jaipal Singh Munda emerged to become the captain of the Indian hockey team that won gold at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Nearly a century later, Barwa carried forward that legacy, not with a stick in hand, but with an unwavering commitment to nurture young girls in the sport. Her coaching, often in remote fields with bare minimum facilities, produced several Adivasi hockey stars. 'She dedicated her entire life to hockey,' said Sanjeeta Barwa, her younger sister. 'She started playing in Class 5 after being selected for Gumla's training programme. Later, she trained at the Bariatu Hockey Centre and then joined the Punjab Hockey Academy before returning to Jharkhand.' Barwa played for Jharkhand for nearly two decades, though a leg injury put paid to her chances of making it to the national team. After her playing career, she became a full-time coach under the Jharkhand government's Department of Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs. Barwa was initially posted in Simdega, one of Jharkhand's hockey hubs, where she served for over a decade before being transferred to Khunti. Until her illness, she was coaching at the School of Excellence (SS+2) in Khunti, a residential centre nurturing young tribal talent. 'She produced many state, national-level and international players. She worked with the likes of Salima Tete, who is now the captain of the Indian hockey team, Sangita Kumari and Beauty Dungdung,' Sanjeeta said. Born into a hockey-loving adivasi family, Barwa drew inspiration from her father Late Gopal Barwa, a CRPF jawan and local player, and her uncles who played in village tournaments. She grew up watching matches dubbed the 'Khassi Cup' and 'Murga Cup,' where goats and chickens were prizes. Her sister remembers her struggles with clarity. 'She came up the hard way — no money, limited resources — but she never gave up. Even when she had seizures in 2022, she recovered and guided the Jharkhand team at the Rourkela nationals in 2023.' 'Even while battling illness, she remained hopeful about returning to the field,' said her tearful sister. 'She told me, 'I want to get better and go back to training my girls.'' Former India captain Asunta Lakra, currently a national selector, recalled her deep bond with Barwa, describing her as a quiet force in Jharkhand's grassroots sports movement. 'I first met Pratima didi at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bariatu, Ranchi, in the late 1990s. She was our senior — strict but gentle, a natural leader who kept the team disciplined without ever raising her voice,' Asunta told The Indian Express. 'She would say, 'I want to be a turning point in at least one girl's life.' No one talks about it, but every single international player coming from Simdega or even Jharkhand today — they were once under her care,' Lakra claimed. 'She never sought the limelight and didn't get the recognition she truly deserved — not from the system, not even from us sometimes.' Barwa's husband, Sukra Lohra, is a CRPF jawan currently posted in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. They married in 2018 and have a one-and-a-half-year-old son. He remembers how passionate his wife was about hockey, often choosing to be on the ground over holidays at home. 'She would say, 'I couldn't play much, but I want to make sure the children I coach get every opportunity,'' he recalls. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren called Barwa's passing an irreparable loss for the state and the Indian hockey fraternity. 'The untimely demise of hockey coach Pratima Barwa ji, who gave many talented international hockey players to Jharkhand and the country, is extremely saddening,' he wrote on social media. He called her 'an ideal for the hardworking daughters of Jharkhand.' Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
