At 101, this Navy veteran from Visakhapatnam ready for World Masters Athletic Championship

At 101, Commander (retired) Sriramulu is an inspiration to many. He has served in the Navy, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Apart from an illustrious career in Navy, Commander (retired) V. Sriramulu has won 24 medals in Asian Masters and World Masters Athletic Championships.

His daily routine suggests age is just a number. He does his weight training and undergo a race walk of at least 18 km on alternate days, a strict regimen not many people follow even in their prime.

But it is not a hard task for this centenarian. Meet Commander (retired) V. Sriramulu, a former officer of the Indian Navy. The hoisting of the tricolour by the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru at Red Fort on August 15, 1947 and four big wars including World War II, the 1962 Chinese aggression, 1965 and the 1971 war with Pakistan, he has seen it all. And now, the 101-year-old is training for the Asian Masters Athletics Championship, scheduled to be held in Philippines in November this year and in the World Masters Athletic Championship (WMAC) in Sweden in 2024.

The Commander (retired) who has made Visakhapatnam his home celebrated his 101st birthday on July 18.

Apart from his Illustrious career in the Navy, he has made the country proud by winning a number of medals in the Asian and World Masters Athletic Championship (WMAC).

A bundle of energy and enthusiasm, Commander (retired) Sriramulu is a powerhouse when talks about his naval exploits or achievements on the track or field.

“I joined the Royal Indian Navy as an officer in 1944. After undergoing training at Karachi harbour, I was posted on minesweepers. Our job was to escort supply vessels as we had immense threats from Japanese submarines and warships,” reminisces Commander (retired) Sriramulu.

Having worked in Karachi, Trincomalee and Andaman Islands during World War II, he was drafted as an officer into the Indian Navy, post Independence.