Bhubaneswar, July 28: Finally, Budhia Singh is back.
Ending weeks of speculation over his stay with the state government sports hostel, Budhia, the youngest marathon runner who made headlines in 2006, reached the city yesterday.
The 14-year-old child, a prodigal marathoner, covered 65km from Puri to Bhubaneswar in seven hours at the age of four.
A beaming Budhia is contemplating to leave the sports hostel. "The facilities provided at the hostel are substandard. I feel like I'm in a jail, and I do not see any future there. If other athletes can leave the hostel on their own, I can also take my own decision," said Budhia, after reaching the Bhubaneswar airport.
Budhia has not returned to the government-run sports hostel at Kalinga Stadium after the summer vacation, which concluded on June 3. The athlete failed to respond to the letters of the state sports department, which later prompted the Child Welfare Committee in Khurda to file an FIR.
Budhia has been staying at the sports hostel since 2007.
The athlete's mother, Sukanti Singh, echoed the same. "My son had been subjected to torture and was not getting proper training facilities. He is not interested in getting back to the hostel any more. If he gets a proper coach, he will definitely excel as an athlete," said Sukanti.
When asked about their disappearance from the state, Sukanti said both of them were at Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu and from there they went to Mumbai, before returning to the city yesterday. Sukanti said the producer of Budhia Singh: Born to Run, the biopic of the athlete, had taken them for the tour. The movie is scheduled to release next month.
In a different development, committee member Benudhar Senapati said: "We would hold discussions with the sports hostel authorities to ascertain the reason behind Budhia's unwillingness to continue his stay at the sports hostel. We would also try to find out whether Budhia is facing any difficulties there. Besides, we would also record the statements of Budhia and her mother over their disappearance for a month."
Police today recorded Budhia's statement over his sudden disappearance. The police said Budhia told them that he and his mother had gone on their own.
