City student Jagupilla Ravi Kiran did what he promised. This stout-hearted athlete nonchalantly covered a distance of 62 kilometres, as announced earlier, from Gandhi Statue at One Town covering several landmarks in the district and reaching Tummalapallivari Kshetrayya Kalakshetram in five minutes less than nine hours.
The run organised to commemorate the 62 Republic Day festivities by ‘C” Channel also witnessed active the participation of hundreds of school, college students and physical education department members of Acharya Nagarjuna University, encouraging the 21-year-old final year B.Com student of Kakarabharti Bhavanarayana College all the way from morning 5.30 a.m.
Mr. Ravi, wearing shoes meant for marathon, began his run at 5.30 a.m. that passed through Chittinagar, Kadereswarapet, Singhnagar, Nunna, Agripalli and returned back via Karl Marx Road, BSNL, Hotel D.V. Manor, M.G. Road, IGMC stadium, police control room and Tummalapallivari Kstrayya Kalakshetram in eight hours and fifty five minutes.
“It is a great accomplishment. His introduction to triathlon (running, swimming, cycling) helped him immensely. He started to wobble a bit after 35 kilometres. We gave him sufficient supplements and refreshments to keep the momentum,” said Vinayak Prasad, SAI athletic coach.
Ambulances of Mahipal Hospital went along with the athlete to render a helping hand in case something went wrong. “I am happy I could complete the run without any hitch,” said a tried Kiran to media persons. Minister of Secondary Education Kolusu Parthasaradhy, legislators Malladi Vishnu and Vellampalli Srinivas congratulated Mr. Kiran and asked youth the emulate the athlete, who achieved his goal against many odds. Acharya Nagarjuna University vice-chancellor K. Viyyanna Rao, T. Ramesh of ‘C' Channel, M. Koteswara Rao, chairman, Sri Aditya Infra Housing Indian Private Limited, C.B.R. Prasad of CBR Sports Academy, Kethanakonda, G. Venkateswara Rao, president, Bezwada Bar Association, District Sports Development Officer B. Sudhakar, A.V. Raghavendra Rao, secretary, Krishna District Athletic Association attended the felicitation function.
