Defiant about his age, this ‘young man’, from Andhra Pradesh has proved that it is but just a number! Meet Venkata Ramana, who is from Visakhapatnam and has bagged more than 100 awards in walking and running.

One would wonder what is so remarkable about it. He is all but 75 years old and is fondly and popularly known as “Running Bahubali” by Vizag’s city walkers club.

He is not just iconic but also an ideal for youngsters who don’t look at the number of years he has lived but at his thought and mind – which are young.

Talking to the media Ramana remarked: “I never think I am old. Keeping a cool mind will help you remain healthy and avoid health issues.”

Ramana, who retired from the electricity department, after years of service has to his credit several medals and prizes all garnered from participating and winning competitions in both walking and running.

At the age of 69, Ramana decided to join the Dhari SVLS Walkers Club, at an age when most start thinking of hanging their boots!

And then followed participation and winning competitions. He won the second prize in 5,000 metres walking and running in the 2020 AP Masters Athletics competitions which were held at the Visakha Port Stadium. In the same competition, he picked up the third prize in 800 metres running.

At the national competitions held in Rajasthan in 2019, Ramana walked away with the first prize in 5,000 metres running, while also adding to his kitty third prize in 5 kilometre walk, and third prize in 800 metres running.

In 2017, he won the first prize in 10 kilometres running at Visakha Governor Cup competitions.

The two waves of Covid-19 have acted as a damper for Ramana with people not participating in walking and running. “Competitions too are not being held due to the pandemic. I will surely participate in them if they resume,” he said.

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