Bhubaneswar, Nov 11: Long-distance runner and Limca Book of Records holder, Budhia Singh, who scripted history by running from Puri to Bhubaneswar in Odisha covering 67 Km distance in a little over seven hours at the tender age of four in 2006, has been toiling hard to represent India at the Olympics.

Odisha-born Budhia, in a recent podcast at Argus News, said that he has been undergoing training for 10km track event at Hanumangarh in Rajasthan under the guidance of coach RD Singh, a recipient of Dronacharya Award, since last three years, and aims to represent the country at the Olympic Games.

During the interview, 22-year-old Budhia said, “After my matriculation in 2017, I left Odisha and moved to New Delhi for higher studies. There, I practiced at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Stadium for nearly two years and later shifted to Rajasthan. It took me around two years to find out a good coach, like RD Singh. Now, my first aim is to break the 10km national record at senior level, and then participate at the Olympics.”

Recalling his late mother Sukanti, who passed away at his arms last year, Budhia said that taking part at the Olympics is not only his goal of life but also his mother's last wish.

When asked about his childhood memories, Budhia, the world's youngest marathon runner, acknowledged that he has not remembered many things of his early days except for a few incidents like the famous Puri-Bhubaneswar marathon.

Speaking about his childhood coach Biranchi Das, who was shot dead in Bhubaneswar in 2008, Budhia credited his first coach and mentor (Biranchi Das) for the fundamental role he played in shaping up his sporting career at his young age.

After running the record-breaking Puri-Bhubaneswar marathon, Budhia was admitted to the SAI sports hostel in Bhubaneswar. However, the young athlete claimed that he was neglected at the sports hostel. “I could have performed even better if I had been given special attention on my running prowess while staying at the sports hostel. Alas! I was neglected there,” he said.

Budhia also shared his struggle to line up funds to pay for his training and other expenses. He also revealed how his two elder sisters are extending financial support to him from their little earnings.

Born in 2002 at a slum in Bhubaneswar, Budhia hit the headlines in 2006 when he ran 67 Km between Puri and Bhubaneswar in a little over seven hours for which he was enlisted in the Limca Book of Records. Eventually, the wonder kid ran as many as 48 marathons when he was only five years old. Owing to that, he was once highly regarded as the future marathon prospect of the country.

However, after joining the sports hostel in the State Capital, Budhia did not live up to the expectations even at the school competitions due to the “obvious” reasons.

Nevertheless, Budhia is hopeful to return to the track in a bigger way. “I am striving hard to improve my skills, stamina and strength. Just wait for 4-5 years, I will shine again and bring glory for my country,” he said.

A biographical film on Budhia namely "Budhia Singh-Born to Run" was released in 2016. The movie, directed by filmmaker Soumendra Padhi and featured Manoj Bajpayee as Budhia’s coach, won the ‘Best Children’s Film’ at the 63rd national awards in 2016.

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