Former Fijian Fe­male Middle Distance Runner Reena Devi Laid to Eternal Rest

Fallen former Fijian fe­male middle distance runner Reena Devi was cremated in Nadi yesterday.

Speaking to SUNsports, Devi’s youngest son Ravinesh Kumar said he was with his mother the day she passed away.

“I held her hand during her last moments and I will never forget that,” he said.

The 49-year-old Devi was the Head of School at the Nadi Special School and she passed away at the Nadi Hospital on Sunday.

She hit the headlines while running for Labasa Arya Sec­ondary School during the 1984 Coca- Cola Games when she won the 1500m junior girls fi­nal.

Running without shoes she became the first Indo Fijian fe­male athlete to run at the 1985 Pacific Mini Games in Raro­tonga, Cook Islands, where she won a silver medal while Don­na Cavuilati took out the gold.

She later ran for Labasa Col­lege at the Coke Games.

INSPIRING SISTER

Devi’s brother Hemand Ku­mar said her sister was one person who personally inspired him in a lot of things.

“For me personally she was an inspiring person, learning from her will be something of the past for me now,” he said.

She was a very determined person and was always encour­aging us all the time.

“We had a rice plantation and she would get up early and tell us to go out and plant before the sun comes up.

“And she made sure we start early in the plantation and re­turn home before the sun goes down.

“I was not into sports but it was through my late sister that I built an interest in running. She would want me to compete with her.

“She had great respect for peo­ple. I was her younger brother but she would treat me as if I was her older brother.

“She’ll be missed by all of us,” he added.

A former Labasa College stu­dent who along with Devi won their race at the Coca- Cola Games, Dr Mohammed Ishaque said she was a good person who always try to help and develop other athletes.

Edited by Osea Bola

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