Athlete Lata Rani Das. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, May 15: Veteran athlete Lata Rani Das has made a name for herself on the track. But to go to Chinese Taipei for an athletics meet, the mother of five will probably have to sell her gold jewellery.

The 57-year-old Berhampur mother of five has been selected to participate in the Asian Athletics Meet for veterans to be held from October to November this year in Chinese Taipei. But with no sign of help coming from any quarter, Das has decided to sell the gold jewellery she received for her wedding to meet the expenses for the trip.

“With the state government and the Union sports ministry not co-operating, this is the only way I can meet the expenses to participate in the Asian Athletics Meet to be held in Taipei,” said Das, who is determined to go to China and win medals for India.

A resident of Ramkrushna Nagar in the city, Das is counting on the gold ornaments she had received during her wedding in 1973.

Her husband, Ram Mohan Das, who worked at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, retired from the job a few years ago.

“What is the use of these ornaments when my first priority is to compete in the Asian Athletics Meet,” said the senior athlete. She needs at least Rs 70,000 to participate in the athletics meet.

Das stood first in 800-metre race, second in the 300-metre hurdles and third in the Asia Masters Road Race during the Asia Athletics Championship held at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia from December 6 to 12, 2010. Though she qualified to participate in the Asia Athletics Championship held in Indonesia in 2007 and Hong Kong in 2008, financial constraints stopped her from going.

She also stood first in 200-metre race and second in the 100-metre sprint during the State Veteran Athletics Meet held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in 2006. She came first in a mini-marathon held on January 29, 2006, at Kalinga Stadium clocking 16km in 1 hour 47 minutes and 45 seconds.

To train, Das practises running daily at Khallikote College Stadium early every morning and says she feels fit to take on any competition.