Renjith Maheswari as he won the triple jump gold medal on Thursday was lustily cheered by the home crowd at the University Stadium here. And prominent among them was none other than his wife, V.S. Surekha, who on Wednesday had her own moments of glory while piloting a new meet record in the women’s pole vault.
There had been boos from a section of the crowd at the southern gallery when Surekha, sporting Tamil Nadu colours, went from strength to strength last evening at the expense of her Kerala rivals and only when it was realised that she was the wife of Renjith that the throng turned its attitude against Surekha.
Kerala itself has seen many sportspersons tie the knot, Shiny Abraham-Wilson C. Cherian, and Anju Bobby George-Robert Bobby George being just two of the prominent couples.
Married through the last three years, Renjith and Surekha incidentally are only one of those pairs to have a gold medal each at the ongoing 35th National Games and that too with new meet records to boot.
“Surekha has been always a great source of inspiration, supporting me through thick and thin. Today again, she was in the forefront, wishing me well and motivating me to give up my best. As sportspersons, we know how difficult it is to train and compete and so we are always there to help one another,” Renjith said when asked to comment on his show this evening, especially with his wife cheering for him.
Surekha too had only complimentary words to say about her husband, “We know very well what we need while competing. But it is always great to have a loved one supporting you all the way and I know Renjith, though he gets anxious at times, would be following my progress keenly from the stands.”
The arc lights firmly on them, Renjith and Surekha, for sure, are enjoying all the adulation as any golden couple would do.
