Budhia, coach run into abuse claims

A four-year-old child, sold by his mother for just 800 rupees, has been dubbed India's "marathon boy" after he ran 65 km on Tuesday, but critics accused his coach of risking the boy's health for cash.

Budhia Singh, dressed in a white T-shirt and red shorts, covered the distance in just seven hours and two minutes, after setting out to become the youngest Indian to cover the marathon distance.

His progress was avidly followed by many TV news channels. Around 300 police officers ran with him, and senior local government officials greeted him when he eventually ground to a halt.

Born in a slum in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, Budhia was a year old when his mother sold him after his father had died.

Biranchi Das, a local judo teacher, adopted Budhia and later discovered his unusual stamina.

Thousands of

people cheered Budhia during his record attempt, which saw the exhausted child collapse as soaring summer temperatures sapped his energy.

An editor with the Limca Book of Records, a local version of the Guinness publication, said Budhia's record would be officially recognised on Thursday.

"Though Budhia had completed this distance several times, we did not have any record to claim it," Das told reporters.

However, there are serious concerns the boy is being pushed too far for publicity and rewards.

Orissa's state-run child welfare committee is probing allegations the coach is exploiting the child for personal gain.

Das has in turn won a court injunction against Orissa's child development minister, Pramila Mallick.

Budhia said he is happy to run and run. "During my (daily) ten-hour practice, I don't feel the pain; I enjoy it," he said.