Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Running races is very popular around the world. But being an excellent runner takes skill. Budhia Singh is an excellent runner from India. He trains every day. Budhia runs many kilometres every morning. He holds running records in India. He has inspired many people to start running. But his story has also caused many disagreements. You see, Budhia is only four years old.
Today’s spotlight is on four-year-old long distance runner Budhia Singh.
Voice 2
Budhia’s story begins near the city of Bhubaneswar. Budhia’s family was very poor. His father did not have a job. And he was an alcoholic. He died when Budhia was two years old. Budhia’s mother could not support her four children without her husband. So she made a hard decision. She sold Budhia to a man for eight hundred [800] rupees or about eighteen [18] dollars. Soon, Budhia was living on the streets
Voice 1
A few months later, a man named Biranchi Das saw Budhia. Budhia had a badly injured leg. So Biranchi decided to care for Budhia
Voice 2
Biranchi is a judo teacher. Judo is a form of skilled fighting. Biranchi let Budhia live in his judo school. He fed and clothed Bhudia. He even taught Budhia judo. Soon, Budhias leg began to heal. Budhia became more healthy.
Voice 1
One day, Biranchi heard Budhia using bad language. Biranchi decided to punish Budhia. He told Budhia to start running. Soon, Biranchi became busy. He forgot about Budhia and his running punishment. Biranchi left the Judo School for five hours. When he returned, he saw Budhia. Budhia was still running. Budhia had been running the whole time Biranchi was gone.
Voice 2
Biranchi was very surprised that such a young boy could run for such a long time. Biranchi knew quickly that Budhia had a skill for running. He decided to start training the little boy.
Voice 1
Biranchi did not have experience with long-distance running. But that did not stop him from training Budhia. Biranchi gave Budhia a special diet. And every day, Biranchi made Budhia run longer distances
Voice 2
Budhia trains very hard. He wakes up at five o-clock in the morning and starts running. He does not stop running until noon. Biranchi does not let Budhia drink water while he is running. Biranchi believes that drinking water while running makes Budhia weak. But, he makes sure Budhia drinks before and after running.
Voice 1
After many months of training, Budhia was ready to test his running skills. Biranchi entered Budhia into a half marathon race in the city of Delhi. A marathon is a long distance race of forty-two [42] kilometres. Only the best trained runners can run marathons and half marathons.
Voice 2
On the train ride to Delhi, Budhia ran from one end of the train to the other end to prepare for the race. When he arrived at the race, he was very excited to run. But race officials said that Budhia was not allowed to run in the half marathon. Many people at the half marathon had heard of Budhia. They were sad that Budhia could not run in the race. So race officials allowed Budhia to run a shorter race.
Voice 1
Budhia finished the race and was still full of energy. So Biranchi took him to a party. There he met Tim Hutchins. Tim Hutchins organizes the London Marathon. He was sad to see Budhia. You see, he does not think Budhia should run so much. Mr. Hutchins says that children’s bodies are not made for hard training until they are fifteen or sixteen years old. He says that Budhia’s bones are not ready for that kind of pressure. He says that no doctor or running expert would let Budhia run.
Voice 2
Mr Hutchins is not the only person who is worried about Budhia’s health. Pramila Mallick is the child welfare minister for the Indian state where Budhia lives. She does not think Biranchi cares for the health of Budhia. She says that running long distances will damage Budhia’s body. She worries that Biranchi is using Budhia to become rich and famous. Biranchi does not agree with the people who criticize him. He believes Budhia has a special skill. Biranchi says Budhia will be a great Olympic runner someday.
Voice 1
A few months after the Delhi half marathon, Budhia ran a very special race. This race put him in the record books. Budhia became the youngest endurance runner in the world. But this prize came at a cost.
Voice 2
Budhia was to race seventy [70] kilometres. Budhia ran for seven [7] hours and two [2] minutes in very hot weather. But he began to feel uncomfortable. He started to look sick. Five [5] kilometres before the finish line, Budhia fell down. His little body could not go on. Budhia had to stop running to rest his body.
Voice 1
But Biranchi did not give much Budhia to recover. Only an hour after Budhia fell down, Biranchi brought him out for celebrations. Budhia received an award for running so far. He then went to every television station in the city.
Voice 2
Budhia was happy to make a world record. But other people were not happy. Three [3] days after the race, police arrested Biranchi. They charged him of harming Bhudia. Many doctors performed tests on Budhia. They discovered that he had high blood pressure. He did not have enough vitamins or minerals in his body. Doctors also said that running had damaged his bones. The damage was preventing him from growing normally.
Voice 1
The child welfare minister banned Budhia from running any more long races in the state where he lives. She threatened to take Budhia away from Biranchi. But Biranchi says that no one can stop Budhia from running. He loves running and will continue no matter what anyone says.
Voice 2
Budhia has inspired children all through India to start running. Ten [10] year old Anastasia Barla ran seventy two [72] kilometres. Dillip Rana ran ninety [90] kilometres during training. He now wants to compete in an official race of one hundred [100] kilometres!
Voice 1
Indian government officials have put limits on children running long races. But more and more children in India are interested in it. There are healthy ways for children to run. But people are still trying to find a balance between working children too hard and encouraging them.
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