Age is just a number proves 95-year-old Bhagwani Devi Dagar, wins 3 gold medals in 3 different athletics

Torun, Mar 29: The 95-year-old Bhagwani Devi Dagar has once again scripted history. In a latest ddevelopment, she won 3 gold medals in the 9th World Master Athletics Indoor Championship 2023 at Toruń, Poland.

 

Adding another feather to her decorated hat, she clinched the medals in 60-meter running, shotput and discus throw.

At the 2022 World Masters Athletics Championships in Finland, Bhagwani Devi ran 100m faster than anybody else in the 90-94 age category, winning a gold medal for India in the process.

“I’ve lived long enough to not fear death. Even if something unfortunate happens to me, bring me back to India. But I shall compete and win it for my nation,” said Bhagwani Devi to her family members when they grew sceptical of her competing in Finland last year.

Hailing from Haryana’s Khedka village, Bhagwani Devi got married as early as 12. However, her husband passed away when she was just 30 years old.

Bhagwani Devi Dagar also lost a baby boy at the time when her husband passed away. Yet, Bhagwani Devi decided not to remarry, instead focussed to raise her young daughter and another child she was pregnant with at the time. Four years later, her eight-year-old daughter also succumbed prematurely, leaving her toddler son as her only offspring.

But Bhagwani Devi Dagar did not give up, working long hours in the field to sustain herself and her son, with support from her elder sister who had also married into the same family.