HIS name became synonymous with long distance running in the country and for many, he was the inspiration to take up the sport.
And if one became a long distance runner in school, he would quickly be dubbed “Mushroom”.
Shiri Chand “Mushroom” was born on December 14, 1951 and unlike what many think, he was not born in Lautoka although he spent most of his life there.
Born in Batinikama, Labasa, Shiri Chand moved to Lautoka as a child.
His father was the cook for the British manager of the Colonial Sugar Refinery (Fiji Sugar Corporation now) and wherever sahabji moved, the cook and his family moved.
Now many must be wondering why this runner, who was Fiji’s Sportsman of the Year in 1989 is called Mushroom.
After the family moved to Lautoka’s Rifle Range, the area was used as a site to dump mill mud from the sugar factory.
Shiri used to collect mushrooms that grew on the mill mud and sell them, so even before he started running, people were calling him mushroom and when he did run and won various titles for Fiji, he became Shiri Chand “Mushroom.”
The man stands at five feet six inches tall and definitely not weighing more than 60 kilogram, even at the age of 63, he spends two hours every afternoon doing his running and walking.
He sat in his old armchair and flipped through the various photo albums he has kept with cuttings from The Fiji Times showing him running or getting medals.
There were no endorsements that time, there were no sponsorship deals yet he made the region respect Fiji’s long distance runners.
“I was 14-years-old when I started running.
“They were having competition in the school and I decided to run and found out that I was good at it and even more I liked running,” said Chand remembering the origin of his passion.
“A school teacher then motivated me to keep on running.
“He told me, if I wanted to travel abroad and see the world, the sport will ensure that.
“From there on, I started running in the various fun runs they used to have, sadly very little happens nowadays.
“I started getting noticed and soon enough, sometime in the 70s, Athletics Fiji officials started calling on me.
“They wanted me to represent Fiji as we were going to host the 1979 SPG in Suva. I ran and won silver.
“That was the start of sporting rivalry between New Caledonia’s Alain Lazare and I.
He won gold, I won a silver in the 10000m.”
Lazare also represented France at the Olympics and that year in Suva, he won five gold medals, the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, 3000m steeplechase and the marathon.
Chand was motivated to rise above this sporting rival who in fact was a good friend off the pitch.
“I started training harder.
“I was running uphill more.
“I was determined to get on top of the game.
I kept winning in Fiji.
“I ran a few marathons in Australia and around the region.
“I was not always winning the gold, most times I settled for silver or bronze but I kept pushing myself,” he said.
“I was not getting paid by the sports.
“I was working for the Fiji Electricity Authority and I am thankful that FEA always allowed me to train and take time off work when competing.
“I had the nation in my heart and was never scared to run longer.”
In 1989, Chand was Fiji’s Sportsman of the Year.
During this triumphant era, Mushroom could be seen running in the day or the morning along Lautoka.
He used to run for two hours every day and sometimes twice a day.
He never said no when he was asked to put his body on the line when representing Fiji and he did with pride.
Mushroom became a cult sports figure.
One of the few famous long distance runners of an era now forgotten.
What Mushroom had achieved was that he made long distance a prominent part of ath”letics in Fiji and what he had started was about to take fruition in the few coming years.
A young man followed Mushroom’s path and later on became the Pacific’s long distance champion, Devendra Prakash Singh, but that’s another story.
At 63, Mushroom is retired , if he is not home then he is in the church a 100 metres away from home.
And just like religion, around 3pm daily, he starts running and walking.
“I just cannot stop.
“Lately I have been feeling more alive and I have this urge to run.
“Age has been kind to me that I still keep on running,” he said.
“I run down and go to Natabua grounds where I see athletes gearing up for the Coca-Cola Games.
“A couple of times I would suggest a few things to the coaches but I feel that what I am saying is falling on deaf ears.
“I am free and can help a lot of athletes especially in long distance and middle distance but it seems nobody is coming forward or really wants any help.
I am pretty sure if allowed I could coach some champions from this side of Fiji again.
“I just love running that much.
“I have but one regret.
“I ran whenever Athletics Fiji wanted me to represent Fiji.
None of their officials even from the West drops a line or says “hey Mushroom, here’s a ticket, go and watch an athletics event”.
“I guess athletics was my life and I still would love to be involved somehow.
“I want to help but where are the runners.
“There are no longer any long distance runners in Fiji.
“I think Devendra was the last person to win gold for Fiji in long distance.
“There should be a serious discussion on how this aspect of athletics can be revived, I am willing to help.”
Mushroom was part of the crew that had students wanting to run long distance events in the nation, his rivalry with Lazare is a brilliant story of competition, this inspired many long distance runners to follow suit.
But it is all quiet now on the long distance front.
Fiji last won a medal in the Pacific Games for long distance in 1999 and 2003 was the last year when Fiji was dominant in middle distance.
As Mushroom said, you have to have the heart to do what it takes and with the revolution started by the new executives of Athletics Fiji, this could be sooner than later.
