The 20th edition of the Chennai District Masters Athletic Championship, which concluded recently, drew attention not just because of the spirited performance of participants but also due to the presence of several Kollywood stars.
Aishwarya Rajesh surprised the audience by revealing her sports background. “I used to be an athlete. I’ve competed in state-level running and javelin throw events. I was also a state-level swimmer,” she shared. “With my acting career, it’s a challenge to stay active in sports. But maintaining physical fitness is vital in my line of work. I follow a regular fitness routine under the guidance of a coach,” she said, adding, “Exercise should be an integral part of everyone’s life, especially women.”
Aishwarya also noted that it was inspiring to see people of various ages participating in the Championships with enthusiasm. Arya, a fitness enthusiast and influencer, who was also present, said, “I never miss this event. The participants here are incredibly motivating. Many of my friends are competing, and seeing them, I always wonder if I would have taken fitness as seriously as I do now if I weren’t in the cinema!”
The event saw some stellar performances by celebs. M Shenbagamoorthy of Red Giant Movies clinched the gold medal in the 60+ category for the 100-meter run. In the Javelin Throw, V.S. Chinnasamy secured second place in the 85+ group. Siddharth, SJ Suryah, Tejaswini, and Mayilvaganan IPS were some of the well-known personalities who attended the event.
A highlight of the Championships is its open-age format, which allows all men and women above the age of 30 to compete. The oldest male athlete at this year’s event was over 95 years, while the oldest female participant was over 80.
