Crossing milestones in no time

Belgaum, May 11: Magnificent Endurance: Young skater from Belgaum is the first Indian to set three world records recognised by World Record Academy, poses for a picture with his medals, trophies, certificates and mementos in the background. e.o.m. Belgaum, May 11: Magnificent Endurance: Young skater from Belgaum is the first Indian to set three world records recognised by World Record Academy, poses for a picture with his medals, trophies, certificates and mementos in the background. e.o.m. - Belgaum, May 11: Magnificent Endurance: Young skater from Belgaum is the first Indian to set three world records recognised by World Record Academy, poses for a picture with his medals, trophies, certificates and mementos in the background. e.o.m.

In yet another feather in his cap, the young skater from the city, Abhishek Navale, has joined the proud group of achievers whose names have been listed in the India Book of Records.

All his three attempts to create new records have been now listed in the book, which was started in 2004 by Biswaroop Roy Choudhury, himself a Guinness world record holder. The book is a collection of national records in fields that are not included in organised sport.

Abhishek, at seven (born on December 9, 2001), successfully skated under the bar set at a height of 8.7 inches, covering a distance of 62 feet in the reverse direction in 14.83 minutes at Sadalga town of Chikkodi taluk in Belgaum district on June 25, 2009. With that, he broke the 11-year record held by Kettly Conner who did the ‘longest backward limbo skating under bars' for a distance of 12 feet. This is Abhishek's second record though.

The first feat he performed was by skating for 540 km from Bangalore to Belgaum in six days. On October 26, 2008, he took off on skates from Bangalore, on the Bangalore-Pune highway, to reach Belgaum city on November 1. He did this to spread the message that “KSRTC Transport is the Best Transport”. This made him the world record holder for the ‘Longest Distance Skated on Road' (for those aged under eight), claimed his coach, Suryakant Hindalgekar, of the Belgaum Roller Skating Academy.

The third world record set by this youngster was also on the same day, breaking the one set by Kettly. He successfully attempted the ‘longest backward limbo skating under vehicle' (10 Tata Sumos) for a distance of 65 feet in 7.67 seconds.

A proud Mr. Hindalgekar, who presented Abhishek before presspersons here on Tuesday, claimed that the latter was the first Indian to set three world records, supported by the World Record Academy, in the field of skating. That apart, he has participated in several skating rallies to spread social messages on issues such as blood donation, terrorism and AIDS.

Now, Abhishek is working on improving his speed.

His father, Sanjay Navale, and mother, Sujata, who were also present, thanked the Government and all those who supported their son in his efforts to achieve success.

They said the Belgaum City Corporation and the Department of Youth Services and Sports had given him cash prizes of Rs. 50,000 each. Sudha Murty of the Infosys Foundation had gifted him Rs. 10,000 as a token of appreciation, while Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had allotted the boy a housing site. The former Governor Rameshwar Thakur had also honoured Abhishek with the Bal Pratibha Puraskar, they added.