Rameshwar Gurjar from Madhya Pradesh sprinted to fame in a video where he is seen running barefoot. The 19-year-old runner says he completed the 100m lap in 11 seconds.
Gurjar has reportedly been practising for six months but was facing difficulties due to poor diet. He comes from a farmer’s family and could only study till Class 10 due to his family’s weak financial condition.
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.
The current men’s 100-metre world record is 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt in 2009. The national record is 10.26 seconds set by Amia Kumar Mallick in 2016.
