The beat of drums and a reception committee fit for what is normally reserved for successful athletes returning from top international competitions like the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
But all this was for 95-year-old Bhagwani Devi Dagar, who returned home from her world record run at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championship 2023 in Poland. Dagar won three gold medals - in the 60m sprint, shot put, and discus throw events.
"I just want to say that everyone should play about, wrestle, go to different countries, win medals, make your country shine bright," the nonagenarian told reporters upon her arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Receives technical training twice a week
His grandson Vikas Dagar, a Para-athlete and a Khel Ratna awardee himself, revealed how her grandmother receives training about the technical aspects of the sport twice a week.
"As far as her training is concerned, she receives technical training twice a week, which is exclusively for skill development. Other than that, besides morning and evening walk, she is not put under much stress," he said.
Not the first international medal for Bhagwani Devi Dagar
This isn't her first successful international outing. In July last year, she won three medals at the Championship held in Finland. There she had won a gold in the 100m, and a bronze medal each in shot put and discus throw.
Earlier the athlete had shared a video in she was learning the intricacies of discus thow from one of her competitors.
"One lamp does not lose anything by lighting another lamp. Meet my friend who often helps me improve my game. That's the beauty of the game," she captioned the post.