[www.keralites.net] Artificial leg, Retd Major Devender Pal Singh who completed the Airtel Delhi-Half Marathon on Saturday with a personal best timing of 2:45.00.

 

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New Delhi: There were some adjustment problems for sure but that did not prove to be a deterrent for India`s first blade runner Retd Major Devender Pal Singh who completed the Airtel Delhi-Half Marathon on Saturday with a personal best timing of 2:45.00.

"There will never be an ideal situation for anything, whether it be sports, race or life. You have to cater for some sort of adjustment," said Singh.

"It definitely put a lot of challenge, but once you are in the sports field, there is no excuse," Singh said.

Interestingly, the phenomenon of `Blade Runner` became popular with South African quarter-miler Oscar Pistorius, who is known as "the fastest man on no legs".

Pistorious became a household name after qualifying for the World Championship finals of 400 metres earlier this year.



Singh, whose blade was funded by the Indian Army, surpassed his previous best timing of 3:15.00 clocked at the Mumbai Half-Marathon last year by half-an-hour.

For Singh, who came back from the brink of death during the Kargil war, the inspiration, however, comes from the life itself.

"Life itself is a challenge. When I was informed about amputation of my leg, not even for a single moment did I feel disheartened. I took it as an immediate challenge," revealed Singh.

The retired Major from the Dogra regiment lost his right leg during the Kargil war in 1999. He suffered 90 per cent disability as per the Army service conditions. 

Singh is looking forward to run a full marathon and represent India in the Paralympics.

"I am looking forward to compete in the full-marathon. It will be an honour for me if I can represent my country in the Paralympics," said the armyman, but insisted that he was running for a cause.

Singh, who has Facebook community named `The Challenging Ones`, said "I am taking it as a cause. I wanted a platform where we can reach out to the challenged ones, as you call them, and motivate each other. I want to attract more and more people towards sports and adventure."

Singh revealed that his intention behind the run was to prove it to himself before inspiring the others.

"I wanted to prove that to myself. It is your mindset which shapes your vision. Your mind should control your body and not the vice-versa," Singh, who now works for a private bank, insisted. 

PTI  

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