Budhia’s run cut short in Bangalore

Four and a half year old Budhia Singh, who triggered a nation-wide frenzy by running 65 kms in Orissa recently, was prevented by the police from staging an exhibition run in Bangalore on Saturday.

Even as the child marathon prodigy and his coach Biranchi Das arrived at the Cubbon Park here on an invitation from the Press Club of Bangalore and prepared to stage a demo performance, the police personnel, who had been deployed at the venue in a sizable number ensured that Budhia did not run.

The police officials cited the Orissa High Court’s recent order prohibiting Budhia from running. Bangalore City Police Commissioner Ajai Kumar Singh told reporters that concerns have been expressed from various quarters over the adverse impact on the health of Budhia if he runs long distances. “We will not allow him to run in Bangalore”, he said.

As part of the Women and Child Day celebrations, the Press Club of Bangalore had organised an exhibition run by Budhia around the Cubbon Park premises for a distance of about 3 kms. “Myself and Budhia are terribly disappointed that he is not being allowed to run”, Biranchi Das told reporters after police prevented the boy from running even for exhibition.

When it was brought to Das’ notice that medical opinion was against allowing Budhia to run, the coach said he would be leaving for London shortly along with the boy for a second opinion on the findings of Budhia’s medical check-up. He termed the medical report carried out by doctors in Orrisa as “incorrect”.

Das said he was determined to groom and shape Budhia into the best marathon runner India could ever produce. Even though Budhia was stopped in his tracks in Cubbon Park, the wonder kid sprinted a few laps on the lawns of the Press Club of Bangalore for the sake of waiting photographers. Unmindful of the controversies, Budhia said he was not aware of any controversies. “I want to run any long distance. I will continue to run”, he said.

General Secretary of Press Club of Bangalore Sadashiv Shenoy told reporters that they had decided to felicitate Budhia and the world’s youngest film director Master Kishen in recognition of their accomplishments. “They have created world records. Both of them figure in the record books”, Shenoy said referring to the entry of their names into the Limca Book of Records, the Indian equivalent of Guinness Book of World Records.