This medal-winning athlete from Chennai re-enters sports after 20 years, hoping to inspire his sons

Naveen sporting his medals and holding the Indian flag

Each time athlete and entrepreneur Percival Naveen Howie enters the sector, he enters with a craving to inspire his sons. So, when he picked up the shot put on the 2023 Asia Pacific Master’s meet in South Korea between May 12 and 20, he took with him his craving, and the phrases of his father who wished folks to bear in mind his son’s identify. In the method, Naveen clinched three gold medals in shotput, discus and javelin throw.

An abiding reminiscence from Naveen’s childhood is the moments he spent coaching with his father, who was there for him like an anchor. “I wanted to be there for my kids in the same way and give them similar core memories,” says Naveen. “I used to be a national thrower in school and college but after that, life happened, work happened and most importantly excuses happened,” provides the athlete. 

Naveen posing with his counterparts from totally different nations.

Naveen’s return to athletics is sort of a web page from a narrative. Like another day, the athlete he was coaching his eldest son at an organization park in Nungambakkam, forward of his sports day. “I didn’t have a shot put so I picked up a heavy rock and was showing him how to throw,” he says.

This was when Naveen was noticed by Roda Krishnan, an Asia Pacific Masters gold medal-winning athlete within the 65+ class. Seeing his talent and method, Roda inspired Naveen to enrol within the Masters Athletic Federation (MAFI). The physique is chargeable for holding aggressive multi-sport occasions for people of all talents. With largely self-financed athletes, the minimal age for competing is between 25 and -35, and might go up to 100.

A second from the discus throw occasion

Currently, Naveen is making ready for the Malaysian International Open Masters Athletics Championship in September which can enhance his competitors, as there are 35 taking part nations. At the Asia Pacific meet in Iksan, South Korea, he competed with 25 nations. On qualifying the Malaysian Open, Naveen says he’ll play within the extraordinarily aggressive Asian Open and the World Championships. However, what precedes the athlete is the definition defying zeal and grit he has exhibited in overcoming his limitations and realising his imaginative and prescient for his children and others alike.