Time may have moved on, stadiums may have changed, and crowds may have faded, but for Geeta Zutshi, the track still feels like home. Decades after her glory days in Indian athletics, the veteran middle-distance runner returned to compete in a Masters meet in New Delhi, proving that passion for sport does not come with an expiry date.
Now 69, Zutshi’s reappearance on the capital’s track carried a quiet sense of history. It was here, 44 years ago, that she had stood on the podium at the 1982 Asian Games, winning a silver medal in the 1500m. Back then, she was one of India’s brightest athletics stars. Today, she is a symbol of longevity and discipline, still running not for medals, but for the love of the sport.
Reflecting on the unexpected full-circle moment, she said, “Oh my God. I didn’t even realize I was running in Delhi after 44 years,” Geeta told when pointed the fact out to her. “Now everything is flashing back – how I came to Delhi after attending almost a year-old coaching camp in Patiala and then taking oath on behalf of all the athletes – all like a dream for me,” an emotional Geeta added.
Her achievements go beyond the 1982 Games. Zutshi had earlier clinched gold in the 800m at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, marking her place among India’s elite athletes of that era. Those who witnessed her peak recall not just her speed, but the aura that surrounded her victories.
One such memory from Bangkok paints a vivid contrast to the present. After her triumphant 800m run, Zutshi had planned a quick shopping outing before her departure. However, her plans were interrupted by a persistent Chinese radio journalist eager for an interview.
“Madam please,” he said a couple of times and kept on insisting despite Geeta trying her best to avoid it with shopping on her mind. “Tune isko kahan chipka liya apne saath (Why have taken along him with you?),” I asked her in a rather frustrating voice. Much to our surprise, the very next moment the Chinese journalist replied, “Bhai sahab aise to mat bolo,” in chaste Hindi.
“Pichle 14 varsh se Peking Radio ki Hindi Bhasha me Naukri kar raha hun (I have been working in the Hindi Department of Peking Radio for last 14 years),” he added. The shopping trip was delayed as Geeta enjoyed her moment under the sun.
Fast forward to her recent outing at the Vinod Nagar Sports Complex in Mayur Vihar, and the scene was strikingly different. There were no crowds, no media frenzy, and no immediate recognition. Zutshi won her Masters event in near silence, with hardly any spectators to witness the achievement. It took a while for fellow competitors to realize they were in the presence of a former Asian Games champion. Once they did, the requests for photographs followed, and Zutshi, true to her grounded nature, obliged with a smile.
Yet, for her, the essence of running remains unchanged. “I ran here for fun,” she said. “Two months back I was in Abu Dhabi for the Masters Games. There I had bought a pair of spikes and shorts. “But I developed Sciatica pain in my right leg therefore today I just ran through the finish. “I don’t think my timing of 3 minute 19 sec is all that bad,’’ she said with a smile after finishing comfortably ahead of her rivals.
Despite stepping away from competitive athletics years ago, Zutshi continues to run almost every day. Her motivation is no longer podium finishes, but the discipline the sport has instilled in her life. “I run almost every day but it is not training to win or anything. Actually years of running has taught me one very important thing and that is discipline. Young athletes should make it a habit of training every day,” she said.
Her journey is far from over. Even now, she is looking ahead to new competitions. “I have to compete in a Masters Meet in Japan and then I will take part in the Masters Games in Ohio, USA.” Even as she reflected on her past, her priorities remained refreshingly simple. “I would have loved to recall more on the good times I had as an active athlete but I came with my dog locked inside the house. He must be missing me,’’ she said before departing for Gurgaon – the city where it all began for the 17-year-old Geeta in 1973.
In an era where sporting careers are often measured by records and timelines, Geeta Zutshi’s story stands apart, a reminder that true athletes never really leave the track.
(Quotes sourced from The Bridge)
