Anniversary of Bannister record celebrated

Oxford:

Last week saw the 50th anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister's famous four minute mile. The occasion was marked by a series of celebrations at Oxford University, where Bannister broke the record. Athletes from around the world were invited but the only Indian on the list was Ranjit Bhatia, Oxford alumni and former Olympian. "Well it is a great occasion because this was a major turning point in international athletics. Roger Bannister was a unique person. He used his initiative to run the four minute mile which had never been done," says Ranjit. An Oxford alumni himself, Ranjit represented India at the Rome Olympics in 1960, where he ran the 5000m and the marathon. "The Oxford UNI Athletics Club is the oldest athletics club in the world and it has a long tradition of athletics. When I was a student here -athletics was a major sport in Britain and Oxford was the centre of middle and long distance running. There were athletes galore and it was wonderful to train with them," he adds. Passionate about his sport, Ranjit Bhatia believes that occasions such as this one will help revive the tradition of the mile in England, and hopefully generate a greater interest in athletics in India.