Sponsor spanner on veteran Jamshedpur athlete Achinto Pramanik’s trip to Philippines 

70-year-old has won a spot in the Indian Masters squad for the Asian MeetMail News Service

Jamshedpur, August 7: Achinto Pramanik has missed the bus yet again. Reason: Sponsorship.

Pramanik has won a slot in the Indian squad for the Asian Masters Athletics  Championship to be held between November 8 and 12, 2023 in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines. However, the septuagenarian is not able to afford cost of flying to Philippines and is looking for a sponsor to fund his trip.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to afford Rs one lakh to represent the country at the Asian Meet. No sponsor is coming forward to help me out. I feel very disappointed,” Pramanik, who turned 70 last month, said.

A resident of Gamharia in Seriakela-Kharsawan, he added he was praying for a sponsor to no avail. “I was earlier selected in the zindian team for international competitions but could not go due to lack of a sponsor. The Masters Athletics Federation of India doesn’t sponsor athletes for international competitions,” the veteran athlete said.

Despite the disappointment of not being able to make it to Philippines, Pramanik is still keeping himself fit. “I have yet again taken the disappointment in my stride. I no no sponsor will come forward to help me since nobody is interested in sponsoring master athletes,” Pramanik, who clained two silvers in 5,000 m and 10,000 m at a national masters meet in Kolkata in February rhis year, added.

The 70-year-old is covering a distance of 20 km daily in the morning before practicing stretching exercises at his home in Gamhara.

Talking about his routine, he said, “I leave home at 5 am sharp. I take the new Domuhani bridge and proceed towards the NH 33. Keeping my age in mind, I vary my pace and try to take things easy. I run alone and enjoy it to the fullest. I want to fly to philippines and bring laurels for my country and Jharkhand,” Pramanik, who won the second slot in the 65 years and above age category at the fifth edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata 25k run-a-thon in December, 2018, said.

It was the first Masters National Athletics Championship after the pandemic.

Pramanik also finished second, behind Singapore’s Peter Allen, in the Delhi half-marathon (21 km) by clocking 1 hr 51 minutes. The event was held virtually in November 2020.

“Running comes naturally to me. I think age should not be a barrier for pursuing any sporting activity. In fact, I don’t feel tired running. I want to continue it till my body permits,” the veteran athlete said, added.

Pramanik said he felt completely out of shape during the Covid-induced  lockdown. Though he exercised daily at home, but missed running. “I started feeling fit only after the lockdown was lifted. Fitness is of paramount importance while participating in competitive events,” he said. He has won medals for Jharkhand in national masters athletic meets.

According to him, he wants to compete in as many marathons as possible and fulfil his dream of representing the country in world championships. “I have made it to the national masters athletics teams for international competitions on more than one occasion. The goal is to win the prize money since nobody comes forward to sponsor my trips. I have been selected in the Indian team for world competitions but had to back out due to paucity of funds,” he added.

He missed a chance to represent India at the World Masters Athletics Championship in Lyon, France held in August 2015. He managed to send an entry to participate in the 2000m steeplechase, but could not afford the trip as Rs 1.5 lakh was needed to go to France.

Pramanik, who runs a grocery shop near his home, stays with his family.

He has won one gold (200m steeplechase), one silver (800m), and a bronze (1500m) at the national event held in Panjim, Goa in 2015. He also bagged three gold medals (200m steeplechase, 800 m and 1500 m) and a silver medal (4×400 m relay) at the national meet held in Hyderabad in 2017.