This dad plays hard at 66

PERSONAGE : Kishen Narsi

Sports buff Kishen Narsi is the pride of Bombay Gymkhana. You name a sport and he has excelled in it. From common and popular games such as cricket and football to golf and rugby, Kishen Narsi is passionate about sports. At 66, he is continuously challenging himself to do better.

His love of sports drives him to take an active interest in the management of the sports department of Bombay Gym, where he wears several hats on various committees. Bombay Gym’s members, of course, boast high profile sportsmen including Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Sardesai and Mahesh
Bhupati.

Backed by a strong academic background, Narsi pursued sports vigorously throughout school and college, winning tournaments and trophies. He was the sports captain of St Xavier’s College and captain of the University boxing team. He played hockey for Bombay Gymkhana and loved to rough it out at rugby. He became a marketing professional and pursued sports alongside. He officiated as a boxing official at the Asian Games, Bangkok, in 1978; Asian Games, Delhi 1982, and Olympic Games, Los Angeles, 1984.   

 “Sports builds character. It is a form of discipline, fitness and good health. One is never young forever. But if you can keep yourself active—mentally and physically— you have conquered the age barrier. As we grow, the body makes more demands.”

 Narsi is pleased that sports is now allowing people to make a livelihood and that  more girls are taking to sports. At a national boxing championship, he reveals, about 250 girls took part.

He also believes that the women’s fight for voting rights and independent membership rights in Bombay Gym is logical and equality of gender needs to be ingrained in all of us. “Women are as competent as men in every field and one just has to accept this reality,” he declares.  

 Narsi believes that sports is a great leveller. He cites the example of his favourite sportsman, Mohammed Ali.  “Mohammed Ali is a boxing legend and he stands for the fight against discrimination. Being Afro-American, he was a crusader for the upliftment and equal treatment for all sportsmen. The fruits of his efforts are being enjoyed by all of us,” he exclaims.

Active as ever, his calendar is filled with various events for 2006 and he is making travel plans already. “It is important that we understand that with age, one needs to slow down one’s pace, yet one can continue to contribute to the game. And that’s what dignity is all about,”   he says.

“In Bombay Gymkhana, we have the pentathlon tournament, where one competes in five games. I play in the 65-70 years age group, and when I see 70-year-olds play better, it motivates me,” he says. Narsi’s latest ambition is to beat his son, an ace player.