Olympic medal my final frontier: Kunja

BANGALORE: At the age of 38, Nameirakpam Kunjarani Devi is young, and someone who has been there and done that. Placed in the top five in world at one time, with more than two dozen medals in international meets and plenty more at the National level, Kunjarani has been a pioneer of sorts on the women''s weightlifting scene.
Yet, Kunjarani has one ‘final frontier'' to vault before she rests her case -- an Olympic medal.
Talk of time not being on her side and the affable Manipuri scoffs. A medal at Athens perhaps may force a change in thought, but for ‘Kunju'', as she is affectionately called, the focus is now firmly on Athens.
For one who has been the leading light of women''s weightlifting for decades, Athens will be Kunjarani''s first Olympics. A six-month ban for testing positive just before
Sydney 2000 scuttled her chances of participating Down Under. Those dreadful memories, however, are firmly behind her.
"What had to happen, happened. It''s history now and I''ve forgotten about it. I''m looking ahead and to the future."
Critics would argue that there isn''t too much of the future left for Kunjarani to look forward too, but Kunjarani -- Karnam Malleswari apart -- is still the country''s best medal prospect in the sport.
"Age really isn''t a factor. Look at the experience I''m gaining. I''m 38, but my performance is improving every day. Critics should understand that instead of damning me. It''s the individual who has to decide. I believe I am strong both mentally and physically and am prepared for the Olympics."
If history is anything to go by, Kunjarani feels a medal at Athens is a certainty.
So for now, retirement is definitely not on the horizon for the veteran. "I haven''t even thought about it," she says. "My body is telling me to keep going. Perhaps I could go on for two or three years," she added.