Shillong, Jan 15: Kmoin Wahlang, the inspirational 73-year-old marathoner from South West Khasi Hills, will be the recipient of this year’s U Kiang Nangbah Award for sports, which will be bestowed on her on Republic Day.
Wahlang hails from the village of Sngimawlein and the mum of 12 took up running fairly late in life.
“When I first started — many told me, ‘Are you mad. You will ruin your old body!’ But running did to me what no doctor could. It fixed me,” Wahlang told the Indian Express in an interview some years ago.
The U Kiang Nangbah Award is presented by the state government annually. Recipients get a citation and Rs 2 lakh.
Wahlang is a regular participant in local races and has also run the Mumbai Marathon as well as events in Bangalore and Kolkata, among others.
(File photo)
