Who is MJ Jacob? 81-year-old ex-Kerela MLA who won 2 bronze at World Masters Athletics

New Delhi: Former Kerela MLA MJ Jacob won two bronze medals in 200 m and 80 m hurdles at the World Masters Athletics Championship 2022 that was held in Tampere, Finland. Jacob participated in the 80-plus category at the championships as athletes above the age of 35 are allowed to play at the Worl Masters Athletics Championship.

Jacob, who has won multiple national and Asian masters athletics championships, bagged his first medal at the Worlds. This was his fourth time in the championship as previously he participated in World Masters held in France (2015), Australia (2016) and Spain (2018). He was also supposed to compete in the long jump in Finland. However, an intermuscular fat deposit robbed him of the strength required in his legs, so he skipped the event.

MJ Jacob was into athletics since his school time. However, when he was preparing to take part in the Kakkoor Kalavayal (bull race) festival along with his father Joseph, a bullock cart ran over his feet. This accident put a hold on Jacob’s athletics career.

Jacob takes out time from his busy schedule for practising. He wakes up at 4 am and has a routine to run for at least 4 km. He also practices yoga sometimes to keep himself fit. Jacob is often found practising at the  Manimalakunnu Government College Stadium in Piravom, which he built using his MLA fund. He also manages to have a controlled diet to keep himself in shape.

Political career

Jacob became the president of the Thirumarady panchayat for two terms (1979-84 and 1995-2000). During his term, the Thirumarady panchayat won the award for the best panchayat in the state in 1981-82 and 1998-99.

MJ Jacob also served as Service Cooperative Bank president for ten years and as the welfare standing committee chairman in Ernakulam district panchayat (2005-2006). In 2006, the CPI (M) leader defeated four-time MLA TM Jacob at the Piravom constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly polls.

Jacob does not want to stop with his athletics career and is eyeing converting his bronze into gold at the Worlds Masters. Along with Jacob, 94-year-old Bhagwani Devi won gold in the 100 m sprint, with an amazing time of 24.74 seconds and a bronze in the Shot put.