A “seventy-year-old” woman participates in the “Dubai Running Challenge”… The passion for sports knows no age

Indian Radha Mani (78 years old) caught the attention after she decided to defy age and participate for the first time in the “Dubai Running Challenge” on Sheikh Zayed Road, yesterday, among tens of thousands of participants of all ages, including visitors who came specifically from outside the country to participate in the largest community running track in the world, within the activities of the “Dubai Fitness Challenge” in its seventh edition, stressing that passion for sports knows no age.

Radha told Emirates Today: “I frequent Dubai, where my daughter and her family reside, and this time I was keen to register my first participation in the (Dubai Running Challenge) and encourage my daughter’s family to be present in this unique event of its kind in the world.”

She explained: “I practice yoga, and with my coming this year coinciding with the (Dubai Fitness Challenge), I asked my daughter’s husband to register and participate in the (running challenge), and to go through this experience, in a beautiful integration between generations, especially since my participation came with my granddaughter, who loves sports.”

She added: “Dubai presents an advanced model in various fields, and this is confirmed by this event, which has become a widespread phenomenon as the largest community running track in the world. This in itself encouraged me to participate to prove that sports are a way of life even at the age of 70.”

For his part, her brother-in-law Krishna said: “It was a big surprise when my mother-in-law asked to participate in the (Dubai Running Challenge), so I was keen to fulfill her desire and experience it with her for the first time.”

The event attracted families residing in Dubai, including the Filipino Yongo family. Admon Yongo, a participant in the race, said: “My wife had tried (the Dubai Running Challenge) before our marriage, and she encouraged me this year to try it out for the first time with our daughter (Kezian).”

In turn, his wife, Squimmy, said: “I asked my husband early on to register and participate as a family, and the atmosphere is very wonderful.”

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A South African comes to participate and “cover”

South African journalist, Thulani Embele (40 years old), confirmed that the wide reputation enjoyed by the “Dubai Running Challenge” was the motivation behind his coming to Dubai for the first time in his life, with the aim of participating and running alongside thousands of participants, and enabling him to convey the picture in all its details about how the event succeeded in attracting such a large number annually.

Embili said: “The live images and extensive coverage of (Dubai Running Challenge), which is held in one of the most lively streets, encouraged me to visit Dubai for the first time. I arrived last Thursday, and began preparing not only to practice my work as a media person, but also to participate and run with the crowds, and convey the full picture of this public event.”

Radha Mani:

• I practice yoga, and I asked my son-in-law to sign up for the “running challenge” and go through the experience with my granddaughter.