MYSURU: International athlete M Yogendra had a dream to represent the country during his college days. Though the dream could not be realized then, he has managed to represent India at master athletic meets, thanks to sustained efforts in long-distance running.Accordingly, the native of Mysuru, who works as the superintendent at the central excise and customs in Bengaluru, will represent India in above 55-year category at the world master athletic meet scheduled from September 4 in Spain During his PU days, NCC put him on track for long-distance running. To take part in the Republic Day parade, long-distance running, especially 6km run, was mandatory. He pulled it off with good timing, and got selected for the parade. After NCC, he continued with cross-country races and took it professionally. For a decade since 1981, Yogendra was part of athletic teams representing Mysuru, Karnataka and the University of Mysore, and this fetched him job at central exercise and customs. For five years from 1982, Yogendra was a member of UoM athletic team (he had also led the team once). For six years, he was a member of Karnataka team.His good performance at the national master athletic meet gave him a chance to represent the country in a master athletic meet. He has not looked back ever since — his consistency took him to world master athletic meets in the US, Brazil and Australia. He made it to the Spain meet by winning a gold in the national meet held in Bengaluru.“I’m happy to live my dream which I could not during my college days. Representing the country is a great honour, and it has been possible because of the support from my department staff, family and friends. This apart, long-distance running is helping me keep myself fit. So youth must give importance to physical activities,” he added. His target in the next big event is to be in top 5.- (R Uday Kumar)

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