Sports
The Super Sikh Run 2016
ASIM AKHTAR
The opening preparations for India’s most magnificent run, the Super Sikh Run 2016 took place on Sunday. July 10, 2016. On this occasion, a “Super Sikh Flying Squad” comprising of 26 of the finest runners from Delhi participated in a 13 km run from Amar Jawan Jyoti to Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahib.
Super Sikh Run is a Sikh-inspired run. The mission of the Super Sikh Run is to perpetuate universal brotherhood, boldly communicated through the tag line “One race, Human race”. The run is inspired by 3 tenets of the Sikh philosophy – oneness of God and man, the spirit of selfless seva and personal everyday heroism.
The Super Sikh Run 2016 is scheduled to take place on December 11, 2016 in New Delhi.
In order to launch and announce the event, 26 Delhi runners participated in a 13 km run from India Gate to Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahib as the Super Sikh Flying Squad.
The squad was headed by Major Devender Pal Singh, India’s first blade runner and Kargil war hero and consists of Sikhs as well as non-Sikhs who believe in the Sikh concept of “One race, Human race”.
The Kargil war veteran was seriously injured during the war and was at one point declared dead, Devender survived to shine as India’s only amputee marathon runner, famous as India’s Blade runner.
To date, he has successfully completed 8 half marathons. A double Limca record holder, he is the only Indian to run on an artificial limb in spite of many other severe disabilities, including amputation of his right leg, partial hearing loss in both ears, twice operated stomach and partial removal of intestine, left knee derangement owing to ligament implant, around 40 shrapnels embedded still inside various body parts, urinary bladder operated for tumour, and cervical Spondylosis.
His half marathon timings have improved from 3 hrs 40 min in 2009 to 2 hrs 26 min in 2012 (personal best)
Devender now aspires to not only win laurels in sports but also motivate other physically challenged (whom he calls “The Challengers”) to change their attitude from feeling helpless to fight out and shine in sports and adventure fields. He aims to train more challengers towards sports and bring medals in Paralympics.
The Super Sikh Flying Squad also consists of Manjeet Singh, the ultra-marathoner who can complete 35K within 5:30 hrs, and many other renowned runners from Delhi.
[Courtesy: Sportskeeda. Edited for sikhchic.com]
July 16, 2016