The Marathon Man of India, Wing Commander (physician cardiologist) Ashis Roy was born in Laban in 1932.
The moniker of ‘Marathon Man’ is apt for Roy, an octogenarian, who has participated in more than 100 marathons. His 100th marathon was in 2010 in Mumbai. Roy was then a lively young man of 78.
As he was the first Indian over 70 years to run a marathon, there were lot of media publications. The race organisers allotted him with chest number 100 and gave him start with young elite runners from abroad Hundreds cheered him en route. A group of Mumbai policemen honoured him with a guard of honour under a fly-over near Marine Drive.
We feel happy to know that he had run a very difficult half marathon in the US on October 5, 2014, known as Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. It was cool weather at 7-9 degree centigrade for 3,500 runners, him being the oldest at 82. This was his fourth half marathon in the US that year. He received his winner’s medal of 80+ age group along with his finisher’s medal. The crowd cheered him as the oldest runner and running many marathons in life. Many runners took picture with him for their record.
He ran along with his daughter Amrita as father daughter team on October 2, 2016, Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. Probably they were the only team comprising of father daughter and a world record till date.
There were 1,500 runners and he was the oldest at 84 years. The route was along the bank of Potomac River till 10 miles which he completed in 3hours. After that 1 mile through city center where he was cheered by large crowd, the 12th mile was steep climb of the longest bridge and last mile was return down the bridge and 200 meters to finish. This last part gave him trouble as his right osteo arthritic knee gave way and he had to struggle to finish in 4hours 10 min. They received double medals for completing two half marathons in Alexandria, the first one was in May 2016.
He is holding the Indian records of running 115 full marathons but also holds records of running 13 full marathons in one year in 2009 at the age of 76-77years.
Roy always nurtured the dream to go to the Olympics. But after joining the IAF, he could hardly make time for sports. Though he stopped running during his service period, Roy, an alumnus of St Edmund’s College, started his regime after retirement to lose weight.
In November 2011, he suddenly developed complete paralysis of his right lower limb and MRI showed serious injuries to his vertebrae. He was immediately operated by a Great Neuro-Surgeon at Max Hospital Delhi which took four hours. From the next day, he started improving gradually and after two months he was walking freely.
In February 2012, he returned to the US and continued his walking and changed to slow running. After three months in May 2012, he ran a half marathon in Alexandria and felt happy. After three months he returned to Delhi and again ran Delhi Half marathon on September 30, 2012. Since then he is running regularly half marathons but he ran two more full marathons in India in 2012-13 to complete his full marathon numbers to 115.
Till date, very few people know about him or his contribution to sports.
We feel ashamed being an Indian, especially Shillongites, to never know his name or his achievements and contribution. He is a man of spirit and fully dedicated to sports.
Does not he deserve a state honour or Khelratna from the Government of India?
(Contributed by Sutapa Choudhury)