By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Marathon wonder kid Budhia Singh finally has a new home and a new coach. He was admitted into the Bhubaneswar sports hostel here Friday with the state sports department taking responsibility of his accommodation, studies and training.
Sports department officials brought Budhia to the hostel Friday. The state government relaxed the lower age limit and educational qualification for his admission. The minimum age limit for admission was 12 years and minimum qualification was Class 7 but Budhia is only five years old and a student of lower kinder-garten.
The government has sanctioned a scholarship of Rs.2,200 per month for Budhia. Dilip Kumar Das, a reputed coach and physical fitness expert, who also trained hockey star Dilip Tirkey, has been appointed as his coach.
Talking to IANS, Das said Budhia will have to undergo several medical and physical tests before he is given physical training.
He pointed out that Budhia was not yet 12 years old, which is an ideal age to begin fitness training. Only after all the tests, it would be decided which discipline of running would be suitable for him.
Steps would also be taken for admitting him in a good English medium school to pursue his studies, Das said.
In August, Budhia alleged that his former foster father and coach Biranchi Das was torturing him physically and mentally. Biranchi was arrested but later released. Since then, Budhia was staying with his mother in the city’s largest slum Salia Sahi.
Budhia entered the Limca Book of Records by covering 65 km from Jagannath temple in Puri to Bhubaneswar in 6 hours and 30 minutes on May 1, 2006.