Sports gear has become a requirement for any sport, but an Odisha-born Indian woman living in the UK defied all expectations by competing in the Manchester Marathon while wearing a traditional Sambalpuri saree from the Northeast. Her story has gone viral.
With her vibrant saree and trainers, Madhusmita Jena, 41, travelled over 42 kilometres in four hours and 50 minutes on Sunday. Since then, her accomplishment has been celebrated on social media.
Jena teaches secondary school in Manchester and is an Odia from the region of North West England.
“Madhusmita Jena, an Indian living in Manchester, UK, comfortably runs Manchester marathon 2023 in a lovely Sambalpuri Saree. While proudly showcasing her Indian heritage, she also presents an inviting perspective on the quintessential #Indian attire,” tweeted the Friends of India Society International (FISI) UK diaspora organisation.
It was quickly adopted by a number of others, the majority of whom praised the accomplishment but some also questioned the suit’s usefulness.
“Madhusmita Jena, an Indian living in Manchester, UK, comfortably runs Manchester marathon 2023 in a lovely Sambalpuri Saree. While proudly showcasing her Indian heritage, she also presents an inviting perspective on the quintessential #Indian attire,” tweeted the Friends of India Society International (FISI) UK diaspora organisation.
It was quickly adopted by a number of others, the majority of whom praised the accomplishment but some also questioned the suit’s usefulness.
“Kudos to the spirit of the lady to run the marathon. No mean feat by any stretch of imagination. It’s an inefficient choice of clothing to run though… could easily have shaved time off and reduced effort in running attire. Each to his/her own,” noted one Twitter user.
Jena adores running marathons and has over the years finished various runs all over the world. Her decision to wear an Indian-inspired outfit in Manchester to promote Indian culture and encourage people to start running is still making news.
“Think how quickly she would move in typical marathon attire. Thank you, “another Twitter user remarked.
One of the top marathons in the UK, the Adidas Manchester Marathon is renowned for its “quick, flat, and friendly” 26.2 mile course.
Prasanta Patnaik