Record breaking day for 101-year-old Indian athlete at the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand

Man Kaur, 101-year-old World Masters Games competitor, takes in the view on the side of Auckland’s famous landmark the Sky Tower.
Credit: Hannah Peters / Getty Images

101-year-old Indian athlete Man Kaur had the world at her feet after a record breaking day at the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand. 

Auckland, New Zealand, 2017-Apr-28 — /Travel PR News/ — 101-year-old athlete Man Kaur from India had the world at her feet after a record breaking day at the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand yesterday. Having set a new world record on the field, she stepped out 192 metres above Auckland city to become the oldest person to Sky Walk on the city’s famous landmark.

The plucky centenarian held her 79-year-old son Gurdev Singh’s hand as she inched along the narrow platform towering high above the city centre but bravely let go as she posed for photos.

“Everyone should do this, everyone should come here and visit Sky City,” she said. Mrs Kaur from Punjab in India, has become the darling of the World Masters Games and is enjoying celebrity status in New Zealand. She is the oldest competitor and has completed the 100m, 200m, shot put and javelin events. In her final competition at the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere, West Auckland yesterday, she broke the Guinness World Record for javelin with a throw of 5m 12 taking her gold medal tally to four.

The local Indian community, who have embraced Mrs Kaur and Gurdev during their New Zealand visit, gathered to sing India’s national anthem during the medal ceremony. With competition now over, Mrs Kaur and Gurdev intend to see more of Auckland city and enjoy some of the most popular tourist haunts.

Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Waiheke Island and a tour of Auckland city’s many bays and beaches are on the list of things to do before Mrs Kaur and Gurdev leave New Zealand next week.

Both have enjoyed the clean fresh air in New Zealand and encourage fellow Indians to visit the country. “It is very different here with no pollution and such clear air and of course so few people and cars compared to what we are used to,” says Gurdev.

During their time in New Zealand, Gurdev has continued to look after his mother’s dietary needs and fitness regime and yesterday they dined at Sky City’s Orbit 360 revolving restaurant. Mrs Kaur is a strict vegetarian and takes kefir every morning and roti twice a day made only from sprouted wheat. Yesterday she enjoyed pumpkin soup followed by fresh vegetables, risotto and summer berries.

She says the secret to good health is healthy food and regular exercise. She practises running every second day at an outdoor sports grounds and goes to a gym to work on her upper body every other day.

Mrs Kaur and Gurdev have been staying at Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib in Takanini Auckland and will enjoy some well-deserved rest before attending the World Masters Games closing ceremony this weekend.

SOURCE: New Zealand Tourism