Pandit aims to cover the distance in 20 hours 20 minutes and 6 seconds during the Republica Jiri to Kathmandu Race to be held on May 15 and 16. [break]
The task that seems impossible even for professional athletes is not a big deal for 22-year-old Pandit as this is not the first time he is participating in such a race. He is the youngest among the only three Nepalis who run longer distances than marathon and is venturing into his fourth race with the support of Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.
Under-secretary at the Ministry Purushottam Ghimire handed over the flag of Nepal to Pandit amid a function in Kathmandu on Thursday.
The Ministry has pledged to provide financial support of Rs 100,000, which accounts to about 50 percent of the total cost of the race, according to Pandit. Kathmandu Valley College, Lalitpur, where Pandit is pursuing his bachelor´s degree in business administration has also been supportive in his initiative, but he is still in need of funds.
He completed his first long distance race of 127 km from Kathmandu to Tatopani in 2008 in 11 hours 20 minutes. The following year, he ran from Swargadwari to Kathmandu and covered a distance of 339 km in 47 hours 20 minutes under the supervision of the National Sports Council. He claims to have a record of running non-stop for 17 hours.
The young athlete has big dreams. He wants to create a world record in long distance race covering a distance of 14,000 km in four years.
“My aim is to register my name in the Guinness Book,” said Pandit, and added, “Winning gold in the regional level event would make me renowned in eight countries, but I want to make my country proud across the whole world.”
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