Cancer survivor wins gold in veteran meet
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 23 2013:
In what could be described as timely detection and will-power able to successfully tide over various obstacles in life, a cancer survivor emerged as the swiftest competitor when Samurailatpam Sanahanbi Devi clinched the gold medal in 800 metres race in 80-plus category at the recently held 36th National Masters Athletics Championship.
Interacting with media persons at Manipur Press Club today, Sanahabi said she clocked 7 minutes and 7.8 seconds to win the 800 metres gold at the championship held from June 27 to July 1 at Bangalore's Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Sanahanbi, who retired as the Principal of DM College of Commerce, also secured the bronze medals in 400 metres and 200 metres with a performance of 2 mins 38.84 seconds and 1 min 2.50 seconds respectively.
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Informing that she started athletics in 1994 when she was head of department in GP Women's College, Sanahanbi presently vice president of Manipur veteran Welfare Association recounted that in 2002 she made the top podium finish in half-marathon held in China in addition to finishing third in walking race in another competition held at the same country, competing at a marathon race in Australia in 2001 and discus throw in South Korea.
a resident of Singjamei Thongam Leikai, Sanahanbi was reportedly diagnosed with Colon cancer aged 74 in the early part of 2005 after which she underwent a major operation at AIIMS, New Delhi on June 10 the same year and since then has been living as a cancer survivor.
Noting that many consider cancer to be one of the serious life threatening diseases after HIV/AIDS, she conveyed that along with early detection and treatment a cancer patient needs to avoid unhealthy lifestyle, particularly food habit, to be able to live longer and stay healthy.
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Attributing her fitness and competitive spirit to her indulgence in sports and other physical activities, Sanahanbi also exhorted cancer patients/survivors not to be disheartened as death is the final destination of mankind.
Further informing that doctors initially speculated her ailment to be pile case, she said further consultation with experts in Delhi confirmed her case to be first-stage colon cancer.
It is said that Governor Gurbachan Jagat conferred her with the Survivors Award 2011 (women category) during the National Rose Day observance organised by Manipur Cancer Society at RIMS Mini Auditorium on September 22.Sanahabi retired from service in 1997 .