         Inspirational: 82-year-old man wins medal for Jammu
Jammu: You must have often heard that age is just a number  and one should never stop doing things that one loves and enjoys.
Prem Prakash Luthra (82) from Poonch district of Jammu has epitomised this proverb as he won a bronze medal in Masters Athletics Championship held in Bengal recently.
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He is currently a Vice President of Taekwondo Association Poonch and retired as District Sports Officer.
Watch Report by Ashish Kohli
Talking to the media, Mr Prem Prakash Luthra, said, ” I went to Masters Athletics Championship in Bengal and won a bronze medal in 100meters event there, the participants who took part in that event were from Srilanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan”.
“When a person has passion to do something, then age just becomes a number and I belong to Physical education dept and we have always learn to work and set an example”, Mr Luthra added.
“This is all about our dedication and passion”, he said.
“My family has alot of contribution in this achievement”, he remarked.
“Bengal is far from Poonch and no one will allow a person of my age to travel long distances, all of my family members are sports persons”, Mr Luthra further said.
“My elder son won medal in 95th Cadet category, he is also a state champion and also went to Pune”, he said.
“My second son has represented University of Jammu two times in Hockey and the youngest of all is in NCC and has contributed to sports”, he added.
“Even the women in our house has participated in sports activities and my grandkids told me to go, that’s why my event become successful”, Mr Luthra said.
“I will say that I’m a proud Poonchi and medals can be won if one is passionate”, he asserted.
“In 1958, our cricket team came to Jammu and it took three days from Poonch to reach here”, he said.
“We played match against SMRP Higher sec school, which was the leading school at that time and has strength of 5000 students and we defeated them in finals”, he added.
“In 1960, I represented my state in hockey in six national games in Indore, we were six boys”, he asserted.
“In 1969 I participated in Civil services hockey tournament Delhi”, he remarked.
“I use to coach in cricket as well as in hockey. In 1971, I went to Lakshmi Bai College to take coaching for hockey and National Stadium Delhi for cricket”, he said.
“I have a message for younger generation that they should not waste their time lying on bed, using mobile and watching t.v”, he added.
“Instead they should visits stadiums and indulge themselves in recreational activities”, he asserted.
“When elders will do something only then the young people will follow them, my grandsons woke up at 4am and go to stadium watching me”, he said.
