INDIA: Boy, 5, Runs 65Km

QWE RAN SOME STORIES ON THIS KID A YEAR OR TWO AGO. VERY DISTURBING.

Budhia Singh (FRONT) is accompanied by soldiers of India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as he runs along a road on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, 02 May 2006. The five-year-old child stunned onlookers when he ran a distance of 65 kilometres (40.3 miles) in seven hours in eastern India. Watched over by his coach, paramilitary forces and TV crews, and trailed by army doctors and an ambulance, Budhia Singh ran between the holy town of Puri in the eastern state of Orissa and its capital Bhubaneswar

NEW DELHI, May 3, 2006 - The guardian of a five-year-old Indian boy who runs 50 kilometres (31 miles) a day denied media accusations Wednesday he was flogging him for personal gain.

Biranchi Das said he was more worried about the health of his pupil, Budhia Singh, and was seeking medical advice to study the phenomenon that has created a stir across India.

``We all know there is something wrong,’’ Das told reporters a day after the tiny Budhia overcame heat and humidity to run a distance of 65 km (40.3 miles) in seven hours from Puri to Bhubaneswar in the eastern state of Orissa.

``I consider myself a sportsman and even I can’t run 10 km at a stretch. That is why I am looking for specialists to conduct tests on Budhia to see why this is happening. I want to consult as many doctors as I can,’’ he said.

Newspapers on Wednesday splashed pictures of the youngster on their front pages but headlines like ``65 km at 5 - isn’t this child abuse?’’ indicated not everyone was excited by the feat.

This is pushing the physiological limits,'' said paediatrician Anupam Sibal. A growing body is not meant for so much wear and tear.’’

Others said strenuous running at such a young age could damage bones permanently, causing stunting and even deformity.

Human rights activist Suhas Chakma said Budhia’s life was being endangered and urged the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) to intervene.

``We urge the NHRC to act against all those concerned and constitute a team of medical experts to examine the possible damage done to the health and growth of Budhia,’’ Chakma said in a statement.

Das said he could not understand what the fuss was all about.

``If Budhia does not run, he won’t know what to do,’’ Das said.

``All he does is eat, run and sleep. Budhia is edgy if he does not run long distance every day. I make him do it in two sessions, half in the morning and the rest in the evening.’’

Das said he discovered Budhia’s amazing talent by chance while conducting a judo class in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Orissa, two years ago.

Once, after he had done some mischief, I asked him to keep running till I came back,'' said Das. When I came back after five hours, I was stunned to find him still running.’’

Budhia has already taken part in the Delhi half-marathon and other distance races across India but Tuesday’s outing was much longer than the official marathon distance of 42 kilometres (26 miles).

Das wants to make Budhia an Olympic star - 20 years down the line.

``He will be at his best at 25 and that is a long way off. First he needs to grow up like a normal child.’’

There has been nothing ordinary about Budhia’s life so far.

When his father died two years ago, his mother, a dish washer in Bhubaneswar, was unable to provide for her four children and sold Budhia to a man for 800 rupees (20 dollars).

His new father enrolled him in a judo class run by Das.
The Orissa state government says it is keeping a close watch on Budhia and his coach and will step in if anyone misuses the boy.

The state’s sports minister, Debashis Nayak, has already ruled that Budhia cannot take part in long distance races without clearance from a team of doctors.

NEW DELHI, India, May 6, 2006 - India’s top human rights body has sought a reply from a state government over allegations of child abuse for its role in making a five-year-old boy run a record-breaking marathon.
Budhia Singh’s 65-kilometer (40.3 miles) run in seven hours in eastern India on Tuesday gained him immediate fame, but the Indian media launched a scathing attack on the government and the paramilitary for risking the boy’s life.
The marathon also prompted appeals by rights activists to the National Human Rights Commission to step in.
If the contents of the (newspaper) reports are true it raises serious issue of violation of human rights of the child,'' the Commission said in a statement on its website Saturday. It was also reported that before Budhia could run the full length he was exhausted and had to interrupt the run.’’
Budhia was watched over by his coach, paramilitary forces and TV crews, and trailed by army doctors and an ambulance as he ran between the holy town of Puri in the eastern state of Orissa and its capital Bhubaneswar.
The boy collapsed two kilometres short of the finish line – the headquarters of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Bhubaneswar – and was taken to hospital.
The Orissa government said after the marathon it would keep a close watch on Budhia and his coach and step in if anyone misused the boy. The sports minister added the boy would need medical clearance to participate in long distance runs.
But doctors warned that a marathon could make the heart beat faster because of the need for extra oxygen which could lead to heart failure. It could also damage the cartilages.
The rights body said it had taken note of doctors’ comments and asked the government and CRPF for a reply within two weeks.

Arthur Lydiard is rolling over in his grave. Heck, I’m rolling over in my chair! YIKES! The longest I have ever run is 15 miles, and that HURT. 5 year old is trumping my long-run PR, by a boatload. I usually feel pretty content thinking I can beat the majority of the international women 800m runners. But a 5yearold. That CRUSHES my ego.

The little boy’s Indian “minders” should be more concerned that such extensive mileage may crush his :eek: growth-plates and his meniscuses(i?) (plural please?)

Sorry, KitKat, but could you provide a link to this story? I’d like to have it…
Thanks!!

I just saw this…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4984406.stm

NEW DELHI, India, May 8, 2006 - A four-year-old Indian child who ran 65 kilometres (40.3 miles) in seven hours last week was on Monday banned by worried welfare officials from running marathons.
The child welfare department of the eastern state of Orissa announced the ban following a medical report that Budhia Singh was undernourished, anaemic and under cardiological stress''. He will not be allowed to run long distance till all tests are completed,’’ child welfare officer R.S. Mishra told reporters in the state capital of Bhubaneswar.
Mishra added that medical tests showed Budhia was not yet five years old, as suggested by his coach Biranchi Das last Tuesday when the child ran from the holy town of Puri to Bhubaneswar in stifling hot weather.
Budhia, watched over by his coach, paramilitary forces and TV crews and trailed by army doctors and an ambulance, collapsed two kilometres short of the finish line – the headquarters of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Bhubaneswar – and was taken to hospital.
Budhia, almost a real life version of the fictitious Forrest Gump, and his coach found immediate fame but human rights activists attacked the state government for risking the boy’s life.
Coach Das said the ban was a conspiracy to take the limelight away from the child’s achievements.
This ban will kill Budhia because he loves to run,'' said Das. He has been running seven hours a day for a year now because all he knows is to run, eat and sleep.
They always knew his capacity to run long distance, so why is a fuss being made now.'' Budhia has taken part in the Delhi half-marathon and other distance races across India but last week's outing was much longer than the official marathon distance of 42 kilometres (26 miles). The medical report stated: Budhia clinically appeared undernourished with anaemia and angular stomatitis. His pulse and blood pressure were on the higher side.
It is evident that the boy's protein catabolism is more and he is under cardiological stress probably resulting from long distance running. If the boy continues to run for long distance, it may aggravate the condition, may even result in renal failure.'' The doctors also recommended further physiological assessment’’ of the child and wanted him to undergo a drugs test to see if Budhia had taken any steroid or banned substances''. The child welfare department said Budhia must train under a qualified athletics coach - Das is a judo instructor - and his health should be monitored regularly. Das had discovered Budhia's astonishing running talent by chance. Once, after he had done some mischief, I asked him to keep running till I came back,’’ said Das. ``When I came back after five hours, I was stunned to find him still running.’’
Budhia hails from a poor family. When his father died two years ago, his mother, who washes dishes in Bhubaneswar, was unable to provide for her four children and sold Budhia for 800 rupees (20 dollars).