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05-04-2006, 10:15am
Indian tot completes 65K run
Last Updated Tue, 02 May 2006 13:31:05 EDT
CBC News
A four-year-old boy nicknamed "India's Forrest Gump" ran 65 kilometres in seven hours and two minutes on Tuesday, an effort his coach said was likely a world record.
Budhia Singh was escorted by a team of doctors and 300 army cadets as he ran from Puri town to Bhubaneswar in the eastern state of Orissa.
Thousands of people cheered Budhia on and threw garlands around his neck as he ran, according to reports.
His coach, Biranchi Das, said doctors stopped the boy before he completed his intended run of 70 kilometres because he showed signs of exhaustion.
To qualify for the Boston Marathon, male runners aged 18 to 34 must run 42 kilometres in 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Officials with India's official book of records, Limca, said they planned to include the feat in their 2007 edition, said the Press Trust of India news agency.
The run comes amid allegations the boy's coach is pushing him too hard in a bid for fame.
Das says he and his wife adopted Budhia after his impoverished mother tried to sell the boy, whose father is dead.
The coach discovered the tot's athletic ability when Budhia was ordered to run laps for trespassing on a sports field. When the coach returned five hours later, Budhia was still running.
But state child welfare officials have alleged Das is pushing the boy too hard in order to gain fame.
Budhia, who practises for 10 hours a day, told reporters he was happy to do it.
"I loved running today. I can run as much as I want," the child told reporters.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/05/02/india_boyrunner060502.html
Last Updated Tue, 02 May 2006 13:31:05 EDT
CBC News
A four-year-old boy nicknamed "India's Forrest Gump" ran 65 kilometres in seven hours and two minutes on Tuesday, an effort his coach said was likely a world record.
Budhia Singh was escorted by a team of doctors and 300 army cadets as he ran from Puri town to Bhubaneswar in the eastern state of Orissa.
Thousands of people cheered Budhia on and threw garlands around his neck as he ran, according to reports.
His coach, Biranchi Das, said doctors stopped the boy before he completed his intended run of 70 kilometres because he showed signs of exhaustion.
To qualify for the Boston Marathon, male runners aged 18 to 34 must run 42 kilometres in 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Officials with India's official book of records, Limca, said they planned to include the feat in their 2007 edition, said the Press Trust of India news agency.
The run comes amid allegations the boy's coach is pushing him too hard in a bid for fame.
Das says he and his wife adopted Budhia after his impoverished mother tried to sell the boy, whose father is dead.
The coach discovered the tot's athletic ability when Budhia was ordered to run laps for trespassing on a sports field. When the coach returned five hours later, Budhia was still running.
But state child welfare officials have alleged Das is pushing the boy too hard in order to gain fame.
Budhia, who practises for 10 hours a day, told reporters he was happy to do it.
"I loved running today. I can run as much as I want," the child told reporters.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/05/02/india_boyrunner060502.html