Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email SHE left a comfortable job in a bank to concentrate on her first love – athletics – 10 years ago.
Since then, 37-year-old S. De-vamani has never looked back.
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Thrilled: Devamani holding up her winnings.
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Yesterday, she won the 21km women open category in the 20th edition of the Seremban Half Marathon.
It was more special as it was her sixth consecutive victory, and, to make it even sweeter, she finished a good 17 minutes ahead of second placed Yong Lai Chee.
“This is a very special event for me. Since I am from Port Dickson, I will make sure that I keep on participating as long as I can,” said the former Maybank employee.
Devamani, who only became actively involved in the sport when she was 19, has become a legend in the women’s athletics circuit.
On Sunday, she won the 10km Langkawi Beach Run on the island.
She has bagged several other titles this year alone. Among these were the Kuala Lumpur Marathon (March), Power Run and Port Dickson Half Marathon (April), PDRM Run and Sibu Half Mara-thon (May) and the Penang Bridge Run (June).
Devamani, who is married, said her winnings were sufficient to keep her going. “I am happy that such events are being held to encourage more people to participate in sports,” she said. She said that her next assignments were the Adidas King of the Road (August) and the Tanjung Piai Eco Run (September).
Briton Pauline Mulroy, who won the 11km women veteran category, was also happy to be back again.
The 43 year old who works in Singapore won the 21km half marathon when she participated four years ago. The following year she emerged second.
“It’s good to be back to Serem-ban. But I will not get a chance to see much of this place as I have to leave today,” she said adding that she would return next year to defend her title.
