Doctor Karkera suffers enroute to an unlikely win

MUMBAI: Kartik Karkera would have seen athletes suffer in his young career as an orthopaedic surgeon.

On Sunday, he had to suffer a lot himself, but it sure was worth it as he emerged an unlikely Indian elite men’s winner at the Tata Mumbai Marathon.That he accomplished the feat in “my city” and on his first attempt at the daunting 42k run here, only made it sweeter.



To think it could have all slipped away in the closing stages. Just as he had looked comfortably poised to secure victory, he began to endure what so many marathon runners experience as the finish line draws near — severe cramps.

Anish Thapa, the reigning Indian men’s champion, was closing in. But that’s when the crowd support gave him that extra push and helped him overcome his deteriorating physical condition. When he crossed the tape held by seven-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse, the event’s international ambassador this year, he suddenly found the energy to celebrate animatedly.

His timing, 2:19:55, placed him 10th overall. Just 13 seconds later, Thapa (2:20:08) followed and quietly went over to congratulate his successor. Pradeep Chaudhary sealed the bronze, finishing in 2:20:49. This, however, was Karkera’s moment. Barely had he regrouped enough to get back on his feet and he found himself in demand. An excited police officer beckoned him over, eager to get a selfie. ‘Kartik, Kartik’, someone shouted from the stands by the finish.

“This was the first time I was running the marathon here in Mumbai, so of course very happy that I not only made the podium but I came first as well,” he told reporters later. “I was born and brought up here. I got really good road support and in the end, when it got quite tough for me in the last two-three kms, I was thinking, ‘this is Mumbai, my city, I can’t quit’.”

So strong was the support that carried him through, he said, “I felt like I could hear my name almost at every kilometre. So I’m grateful for that.”

At the post-race press conference, it seemed like every reporter crowding around the 28-year-old doctor had the same thought — how does he juggle competitive running with his professional career? For starters, there are obvious benefits, as Karkera pointed out. “My studies actually have helped me a lot, especially in knowing what to do for my body to recover quickly,” he said. “I don’t have any stress that way because ultimately this (doctor) is my profession. I run for fun. I don’t run out of any necessity but purely because I enjoy it. And I want to set an example for others, particularly for parents, that you can manage both (academics and sport) at the same time.”

Karkera will now turn his attention to next month’s New Delhi Marathon, where he will be looking to qualify for the Asian Games later this year. The balancing act, however, does seem to be getting harder, particularly with the consequences of a win as big as this. “It is tough, especially now that I’m getting a bit famous. I get a lot of individual clients. I even have to ignore people at times as patient flow has increased,” laughed Karkera, who works at Dr. Vasantrao Pawar Hospital in Nashik.

Having run just two marathons before this, one in Nashik last January and then in Moscow in September after entering the event as a pacer, Karkera pocketed Rs 5 lakh for Sunday's win. It is not the money that drives him though.

"For me, money is very secondary. I am a working professional so I don’t have to worry about money. I don’t ask anything from my family though I know they are there. "For me, as of now, fame is more important I’d say."

On Sunday, as his home city cheered, Karkera basked in his newfound fame.



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