Indian police block 'wonder boy'

Police in India have stopped a five-year-old Indian wonder boy famed for his long-distance runs from competing in a 500km (310-mile) walk.

Dozens of police officers blocked a road in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Orissa, and prevented Budhia Singh from taking part in the walkathon.

Officials say the move was necessary in the interests of the boy's health.

Last year they said that a similar trek in the scorching heat amounted to a form of "severe torture".


Budhia Singh, 4, runs along with soldiers in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Budhia Singh has earned a place in the record books.

'Exploitation'

"We have an order that Budhia Singh should not be allowed to participate in the proposed walkathon," Amitabh Thakur, superintendent of police, told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

"Nobody can exploit Budhia for their personal gain. The authorities told us to ensure that," he said.

Last May Budhia entered the record books after running 65km (40 miles) uninterrupted in seven hours and two minutes.

Officials dubbed him "marathon boy", and he became an overnight celebrity as newspapers and TV channels competed to cover his every step.

But human rights organisations harshly criticised both the local government and Budhia's coach for endangering the boy's health.

They warned that the same thing could happen again on Wednesday as day-time temperatures approached 38C.

But the boy's mother and his coach - along with nearly 50 supporters - argued with police over the decision.

They staged a sit-in protest on the road where police blocked Budhia.

They said that they would remain sitting until lawyers had quashed the government move.

In May 2006, doctors said that Budhia had "high blood pressure and cardiological stress".

SOURCE - http://news.bbc.co.uk

I'm kind of glad, this boy has been pushed well beyond his limit already and physically he's in great danger to continue as he has been doing.

I remember the 40 mile run, he actually passed out and was really sick before finishing it and then his coach (and dad) actually woke him up and started to parade him in front of the press.

lol, this kid can become a world class athlete if his dad doesn't fu-k it up.

Right now, he'll be lucky not to die at a very young age

It's amazing he can run that far at his age, but his body shouldn't be put through that type of stress at his age.

Amazing kid, but yeah, seems extremely likely something very bad will happen to him soon, he probably will die early.

I really feel sorry for this little boy. When the last time he ran the doctors adviced not to do so in the future since bones of kids of such a tender age tend to be very soft. Constant long runs will deform him permanently, but his coach just don't listen. In my opinion this boy should be groomed under an able coach under supervision of sports doctors. And his family needs to be less greedy for instant fame and money, I understand since his family is poor but they should also think about the long term, about the future of the child and the right way of doing things.