India, Aug. 13 -- The cancer was diagnosed earlier this year. The surgery followed almost immediately. Then came the chemo. Between the diagnoses and the need for chemo came an offer to volunteer at the media tribune for the swimming competitions in the La Defense Arena, where Taylor Swift had performed to more than a full house just weeks before the Olympics got underway.

Delhi resident and an ardent athletics fan Anasuya Mathur, who has even seen the filming and production of some bits of the Usain Bolt documentary while volunteering at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, was absolutely adamant that there was no way she was going to miss the Paris Olympics.

"The first doctor I consulted for my chemo said I couldn't tak...