MP sprinter eyes to break Bolt's record if 'properly trained'

Bhopal : Rameshwar Gurjar, the 19-year-old runner from Madhya Pradesh, whose video went viral on social las week in which he is seen completing a 100-metre lap in "11 seconds", has expressed optimism of breaking Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's world record if he gets proper training.

In the video, Gurjar, who comes from a farmers' family in Narwar village of Shivpuri district, was seen running barefoot. After watching the video, state Sports Minister Jitu Patwari had invited him to Bhopal last week. Gurjar came to Bhopal on Saturday and met the minister.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Gurjar said, "Usain Bolt made a world record of 9.58 seconds for the 100 metres race. I am hopeful of breaking it after getting facilities and proper training."

Gurjar also said that he has been practising 100 metres run for the past six months, after making a failed attempt to join the Army as he could not fulfil the minimum height requirement.

"I was completing 100-metre race in little over 12 seconds (earlier), but brought down the time to 11 seconds after practising for six months," he said, adding that he had to face physical problems due to poor diet.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had on Saturday assured support to Rameshwar Gurjar. On Friday, BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan had taken to Twitter to share Gurjar's video.

While tagging Rijiju, Chouhan had tweeted, "India is blessed with talented individuals. Provided with right opportunity & right platform, they'll come out with flying colours to create history! Urge @IndiaSports Min.@KirenRijiju ji to extend support to this aspiring athlete to advance his skills!"

In his reply, Rijiju had tweeted, "Pls ask someone to bring him to me @ChouhanShivraj ji. I'll arrange to put him at an athletic academy."

Gurjar is expected to give a trial and tests at the MP State Sports Academy during his stay in Bhopal. MP sports minister Patwari assured training and other facilities to him.

"The rural talent will be selected through state Olympics and they will be provided all essential facilities in the Sports Academy. Apart from this, players will be identified through sports competitions in schools in coordination with the School Education Department," Patwari said.

Gurjar has studied up to Class 10 and could not go to college due to his family's weak financial condition. The current men's world record in the 100-metre race is 9.58 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2009.

The national record is 10.26 seconds, set by Amia Kumar Malik in 2016, as per the Athletics Federation of India website.