Suresh Babu , Indian Athlete

The unparalleled, record holder of the national title in the long, triple and high jump events, Suresh Babu is an Indian athlete. He is counted amongst one of those rare athletes who have won medals in two events in the consecutive Asian Games, in the Teheran edition of 1974 the Bronze in the decathlon and of the Bangkok edition of l978 a Gold in the long jump. This fine athlete, Suresh Babu predominated the athletic scenario between the year 1972 and the year1979. He was holding the national titles in the jumps and decathlon. At the same time, he was picking his event for laurels on the international arena.

Suresh Babu was born in Quilon in Kerala on 10th February in the year 1953. He was a science graduate. For his athletics career, the foundation was laid in the Infant Jesus High School and the Fatima Mata College in Quilon. In the year 1969 at Jalandhar, his first attempt at the national level, was as a junior. He won the national championship in high jump three years later. During the years 1974, 1977 and 1979, he switched from one pit to another and won the national championship in long jump and the triple jump in 1974,1976 and 1978. In between the times, he wandered over to the ten card event of decathlon and brought down himself on the national aspect in the championships held in the years 1974,1975 and 1978.

At the Munich Olympics held in the year 1972, he got his first experience of international athletics. At the Teheran Asian Games held in the year 1974, Suresh Babu won his first medal. His first medals includes a Bronze in the decathlon, and also won a Gold medal in the Asian Championships at Seoul in the following year. The Indian Universities athletics team under the captaincy of Suresh Babu participated at the World Universities Games in between the times, which was held at Moscow in the year 1973.

Under the headship of Suresh Babu, the Indian athletics team took part in the 1978 Commonwealth Games, which was held at Edmonton in Canada. They mainly focused on the long jump event and won a Bronze. After that he went on to pick up the Gold at the 1978 Asian Games held in Bangkok. He targeted the 1979 Asian Athletics Meet which was held in Tokyo. He picked up the Silver at the tournament. As an active athlete Suresh Babu during his seven years also won medals for India at competitions held in Ceylon, Lahore and the Philippines. For the World Athletics Meet, he was the captain of the Indian team. The meet was held at Montreal in the year1979.

To honor his contribution to the Indian Sports, the Indian Government conferred the highest prestigious award in sports the Arjuna Award for the year 1978-79. He is currently employed as Sports Officer in the Kerala Sports Council. Suresh Babu has also served as Special Officer, Sports and Games, in the Kerala State Electricity Board. He has been a member of the Technical Committee of the All India Electricity Sports Control Board and been a coach at the Sports Authority of India (Southern Centre) in Bangalore. For Kerala and Lakshadweep, he was the State Supervisor of SAI.

(Last Updated on : 25/11/2008)

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