Orthopedic surgeon operates in style to win gold among Indian elite men in full marathon
Dr Kartik Karkera during the Tata Mumbai Marathon at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on Sunday. Pic/Satej Shinde
If you are passionate about something, hard work is the only path to achieve success in it. It is this motto that has seen orthopedic surgeon Dr Kartik Karkera succeed in distance-running over the years. And on Sunday, he showcased his brilliance by winning gold in the elite men’s category of the TMM’s full marathon.
Champ Thapa finishes 2nd
Originally from Mumbai, but currently settled in Nashik, Karkera, 28, clocked 2:19:55 for first place followed by defending champion Anish Thapa (2:20:08) and Pradeep Chaudhary (2:20:49) in second and third place respectively. Interestingly, Dr Karkera had finished third in the TMM’s half marathon last year and this was his maiden attempt in the full marathon.
So how does he manage to balance his medical practice and distance-running training as a professional athlete?
“It’s tough [to manage both], especially now that I’m getting famous. I’m currently treating a lot of patients, but when things get busy, I’m forced to take a break. Some patients can be very demanding. It’s tough to help people get back on their feet as they recover from knee, back or other injuries. But I generally get a lot of good feedback from my patients, so I think I’ve balanced my medical practice and endurance training well,” Dr Karkera told mid-day on Sunday.
Two-time champion in the women’s full marathon Nirmaben Thakor, who won silver on Sunday, said Dr Karkera knows the psychology of sportspersons extremely well. “He [Dr Karkera] himself is an athlete and also a good doctor so he understands injuries and athletes well. He knows our injury issues and his treatment helps us recover quickly,” Thakor told mid-day.
Dr Karkera, who practices at the Dr Vasantrao Pawar Hospital in Nashik and does his distance-running training under coach Vijendra Singh, believes all parents should motivate their children to play some sport. He said: “My [medical] studies have helped me in my recovery process as an athlete. I enjoy running without fearing any injury. I want to set an example for all parents that their children too can do both, chase their profession and passion together. It’s not easy to play sport and study, but with the help of parents, children can manage both well. I used to cry alone sometimes because of this pressure, but my parents always supported me.”
‘Crowd support was great’
Dr Karkera credited the Mumbai crowd for his triumph. “The crowd support was great. I even heard my name a few times from people lining the course. To be born and brought up in Mumbai and win the Mumbai Marathon feels special,” said Dr Karkera, whose next goal is the Delhi Marathon (Feb 22) where he wants to achieve the qualification mark (2:15:04) for this year’s Asian Games in Japan (September 19 to October 4).
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