Cancer survivor Morjina Begum clinches silver medal at a national athletics event

Morjina Begum won her battle with breast cancer successfully and has also won a silver medal at a national-level athletics event.

Morjina Begum’s world came closing and the ground beneath her started sinking when she was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. Not only did she face the possibility of mortality staring at her, but even some members of her own family told her that she wouldn’t be able to survive the ordeal.

Begum, who hails from Baladmari village in Assam's Goalpara district, had a long and tough fight with he threatening disease. She was in hospital up until 2020 after undergoing an operation in 2018. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the tumour relapsed and Morjina Begum had to be placed under medication once again.

They say that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and that cannot be more true for Begum. Not only did she defeat cancer, she went on to win silver medal in 4x100 metres relay event in the National Masters Athletics Championship 2023 held in Kolkata a year later and has become an inspiration and reference point for so many people.

The event had been organised by the Master's Athletic Federation of India.
Begum had become an athlete at the age of 35. She has been active in both national and international level athletic events since 2010.

After the operation at her city hospital, Begum moved to Guwahati where she underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the B Borooah Institute.

Dr Munlima Hazarika, who is the professor of medical oncology at BBCI, said that without sheer grit and determination it would not have been possible to run for glory in the athletics track. "Morjina had received cardiac toxic chemotherapy. Despite that she not only participated in an athletic event, but also won the event which shows what true determination can achieve," said Hazarika.

However, despite receiving the medical green light from doctors to register for the event, she was dissuaded by athletic federation officials to participate in the event . They were apprehensive and had concerns about her overall fitness and health.

"Despite all challenges, I went ahead and filled up the form for participation in the Kolkata event," she said on Wednesday.

In order to make her return to the track, Begum was trained by her own daughter who is also a sportsperson and has also won prizes at both national and international level before her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2018.

The 63-year-old’s zeal and mindset was unstoppable even though many in her closed circle thought that she could not return to the track to compete again.

Following the completion of her treatment successfully, she was doubly motivated and Begum also received financial assistance and encouragement from the doctors treating her at the B Borooah Institute.

On February 12, she went to Kolkata and participated in the National Masters Athletics Championship. "I will keep on participating in athletic events till my last breath" said Morjina Begum.