Kenyan coach Patrick offers to train Budhia Singh

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Well known Kenyan coach Patrick Sang has offered to find a sponsor for the 16-year-old marathon talent Budhia Singh from Odisha and train him at Kenya.

"After all the assessment and test of his potential, if Budhia is found to be OK, then I’m willing to find a sponsor and train him in Kenya,” Sang said in an interview to Reuters.

"The role of a coach in handling young runners like Budhia is critical. Workload for an age like his must be monitored so that they’re not over trained, exposed to injuries and burn out," he told the news agency.

After medical examination, the potential of Budhia can be tested. "He will be made to run 5,000m and 10,000m and his performance will be assessed ," said the Kenyan coach adding that he wouldn't talk of marathon running until Budhia is over 20 years.

The “Wonder kid” Budhia Singh had stunned the world by running 65km in 7hrs, 2min at the age of six. The teenager  currently practices on his own without any coach and aims to win gold for India at the 2024 Olympics. "I have not yet been contacted by Sang but I am certainly looking forward to the association," said Budhia who recently cleared the class X exams.