Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Four-year-old boy runs 65km

From correspondents in Bhubaneswar, India03may06

CHEERED by thousands, a four-year-old boy dubbed "India's Forrest Gump" who was nearly sold by his impoverished mother ran 65km to enter the country's foremost record book.Budhia Singh, a slum resident from the eastern state of Orissa whose talent was discovered by a local sports coach, was escorted by doctors and 300 cadets of the Central Reserve Police Force, which plans to sponsor his upbringing.

Budhia had planned to run 70km but doctors stopped him after 65km when he showed signs of extreme exhaustion.

Officials of Limca Book of Records, India's best-known record book, witnessed the run and said it would be included in its 2007 edition, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

"Budhia Singh completed the distance in seven hours and two minutes which is an Indian record. This is perhaps a world record too. No other kid at his age has completed a distance of 65km at one go," said his coach, Biranchi Das.

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