Asia Masters medallist Akila felicitated by SMK

The 72-year-old Akila Thirunayagi Sriseyananthapavan, who won medals including the gold in her age category 1500 metres at the 22nd Asia Masters Athletic Championship in Philippines was felicitated by Saivar Mangaiyar Kalagam (SMK) – a premier women’s organization recently.

The Prisons Department officer running barefoot, won the gold in the 1500 meters with a time of eight minutes and 38 seconds and the silver in the 5,000 metres returning a time of 31 minutes and 41 seconds. She also clinched bronze medals in the 800 meters and the five kilometrres race walk.

It was not the first time that Akila had won medals at these championships. She had already won medals in Thailand (in 2009), Singapore (in 2015 and 2016) and Japan (in 2017) when she took part in the latest edition this year.

Akila was felicitated by Saivar Mangaiyar Kalagam a women’s organization established for educational and cultural development of women.

Looking back in time, Akila has had to face many challenges in life and has learnt the skill to overcome them with courage and determination- she lost her beloved father when she was just 11 years old. After her GCE Advance Level exam, at 21 years, she had found employment in the Prisons Department.

Her husband died young, leaving her a widow with two small children. She served the Prisons Department for 36 long years.

Experience therein has helped her immensely to understand life and matters. Thus, Akila has never permitted fate to put her down. She has been, from her childhood, an innocent yet determined fighter. True to her spirits, she has not meekly bowed down to age factor too as her athletic prowess amply proves. These inspirational factors of her life were duly noticed by SMK – an organisation established by a group of women 93 years ago, for educational and cultural development of women. The organisation currently led by Mala Sabaratnam took steps to felicitate Akila recently in a bid to inspire women.