106-year-old Rambai showed that age is just a number after she bagged three gold medals – one each in 100m sprint, 200m sprint and shot put events – at the 18th National Open Athletics Championships held by Yuvrani Sports Committee in Dehradun.
The centenarian sprinter took up athletics two years ago when she was 104 years and set a world record for the 100m sprint in the above-85 category last year. She emerged victorious from a pool of three to five contestants in the above-85 category in the three events.
According to a Times of India report, she proudly walked off the podium saying "I'm happy" in Haryanvi, telling-off her granddaughter for offering her a leg massage, asking her to "give it to someone who needs it".
Rambai was born in Kadma, a small village in Charkhi Dadri, and spent the better part of her life doing household chores and working in the family farm field. Her passion for athletics started when in 2016, Punjab's Man Kaur, at 100, made headlines by becoming the world's fastest centenarian to win gold at American Masters Game in Vancouver, clocking 1 minute and 21 seconds in 100m sprint. Next year, Kaur had bettered her own world record, shaving seven seconds off her 100m timing at the World Masters Game in Auckland (clocking 1 minute and 14 seconds).
Rambai's 41-year-old granddaughter Sharmila Sagwan told her about Man Kaur and encouraged her grandmother to take up athletics.
With just a little bit of professional practice, Rambai broke Man Kaur's record, completing the 100m sprint in just 45.50 seconds at the Open Masters Athletics Championships in Vadodara in June last year.
In the last two years, Rambai has won over 200 medals taking part in 14 sporting events.
