At 85, when most people his age would rather slow down, Andhuram Das still begins many mornings with a run.

The retired teacher and veteran sportsperson from Natun Gaon in Jagiroad, Morigaon district, recently added another achievement to his long sporting journey. At the 31st Assam Inter District Masters Athlete Championship, held at Khirod Baruah Stadium in Morigaon between 18 and 21 December 2025, he won bronze medals in both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m races in the men’s 85 category.

But Andhuram’s story goes far beyond medals.

In January 2026, Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya visited his residence to acknowledge his contribution to sports under the Amar Mati Amar Nayak initiative, also known as the Our Land, Our Heroes Award.

The award is presented each year to people who have contributed to their land, culture, heritage and society, and who have set a positive example within their communities.

“I was so happy and grateful to have received the citation from the hands of the Governor of Assam. I never thought anything like that would happen, but it was just so satisfying,” says the senior track and field athlete.

When kho kho was new to Assam

More than five decades ago, Kho Kho was barely known in many parts of Assam and the wider Northeast. School sports training largely centred around track and field events and Kabaddi.

Andhuram, who taught history and geography at Jagiroad Higher Secondary School in Morigaon district, had always been drawn to sports. In 1965, he attended a physical fitness course at Mirza in Assam.

The programme, part of a central government initiative to promote games and sports in schools across states, brought trainers from different parts of the country. Football trainers came from Kolkata, athletics trainers from Kerala, physical exercise trainers from Delhi, and trainers for Kho Kho, Kabaddi and hockey from Punjab and Haryana.

It was during this training that Andhuram first encountered Kho Kho.

The sport........

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