Defying Age: 70-Plus Rajiv Reddy Wins National Squash Championship

Life is a long-haul race. Those who stay on course win the ultimate accolade. A quitter never wins. So said the legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in his book Sunny Days. Ask Rajiv Reddy. He will gladly vouch for these. Just back from the Olympics extravaganza in Paris, the indefatigable Reddy has retained the Squash Champion title in Masters’ category at the 80th National Squash Championship in Mumbai. Age has never been a factor for him. But Rajiv Reddy is all passion-driven. He had taken to the sport when he was 36 years old, just after he had become a member of the MCC in 1987. Since then, it has been a one jolly good ride for him. In 2000, he went on to win his first national championship title in the over-45 year category. Since then, titles came to him in rapid succession. In 2019, he won the title in the over 65-year category, instituted only that year at the championship. Age is a mere number, said Hema Malini once. An ever-fit Rajiv Reddy, who sports a permanently friendly countenance, is an age-defying sport personality. If his enthusiasm is anything to go by, this ever-green sports person has an unalloyed propensity to ever stay wedded to the game of Squash. A player, referee, coach and what not, Rajiv Reddy is an all-encompassing  sports personality. Staying in the game permanently is what makes him a role model for young ones in the sporting community.