Mistry adds medals

"In a span of around six weeks, this is the fourth event that I have won,” conveyed Khurshid Mistry on November 26, 2023 the day she secured the first position in the Adani Ahmedabad marathon — 10 km in her age category. A week prior she secured first position in her age category when she ran 10 km in the Indian Oil WNC Navy Half Marathon in south Bombay.

The previous month, Mistry represented India at the International Masters Athletic Championships in Dubai where she earned three gold and one silver medal. The 60-year-old sprinter came first in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m events in her age category and their relay team came second at the meet held at the Al Wasl Sports Club from October 27 to 29.

Khurshid Mistry at the International Masters Athletic Championships in Dubai

Viewing her performance as both "challenging and satisfying,” Mistry added, "International competitions are always a very good experience where we meet athletes from different countries and get a chance to interact and learn from them. Competing with the best athletes from different countries gives an adrenaline high and winning the events a sense of achievement and fulfillment. Sprinting is my forte and I thoroughly enjoy the sport.”

Two weeks prior to this meet, on October 15, Mistry participated in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon where she secured a second position in her age category in the 10 km run.

"This is the first time I have done sprinting and long distance training simultaneously. It was not easy since both these activities are very diverse in nature and require different training and skill sets,” remarked Mistry who has been consistently winning medals in sprinting and marathons at state, national and international events for more than a decade. Earlier she would train for sprinting from January to June and focus on long distance training for the next six months. To prepare for this year’s varied sports meets in October and November she was required to alter her training schedule such that her body could adapt to the demands of both, she explained.