NAGPUR’S very own karate kid Raghav Bhangde, all of nine years, is all set to scale another peak. The Bhavan’s Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines Branch student, is going to attempt to create a record of walking bare hand for 100+ metres. If Raghav completes this mark he will be the first across nation to do so and will be able to register his name in the India Book of records. The event is being organised by Vidarebha Karate Association and Physical Education and Sports Department of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) and will be conducted at synthetic track of of the university off Ravi Nagar on Sunday at 7 am. Addressing a press conference, Vijay Ghichare, President, Vidarbha Karate Association, who trains Raghav said, “This will be a unique record as no one has attempted it before. Top ranked officials including Archit Chandak, (DCP); Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, (Director, Sports, RTMNU); Dr Dhanjay Welukar, Dr Madhavi Mardikar, (HOD, Deptt of Physical Education); Piyush Ambulkar, (Sports Officer, NMC) and Dhanshree Lekurwale (Yoga instructor) will be the judges. President of Indian Book of Records Chandrashekar Babu from Haryana will also be the observer.”

 

Ghichare added, “Raghav joined karate when he was just two-and-a-half years old. Till date he has won many trophies and medals for city at state and national-level. He has represented India in 2018 world championship in Bhutan.” The multi-talented karateka Raghav is also a black belt (Dan 2) holder and already have three high range world records. Raghav’s father Adv Sahil Bhangde, who himself is a former university colour holder in basketball, said, “Till date the little master has three records to his name. The first one was made in December 2019 when Raghav broke 125 tiles in just 1 minute at the age of 5 years. He continued to tumble records as he created second record in December 2020 of climbing 102 stairs through chakrasana in 1 minute and 51 seconds. Next year at the age of seven, Raghav walked upside down from the stairs.”

 

The organisers are expecting Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, State BJP Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, RTMNU VC Dr Subhash Chaudhari, MLC Dr Parinay Fuke, Dr Parineeta Fuke, Sanju Sharma, Ajit Tukdeo to witness the skater turned karate-kid achieving the new record. Raghav’s mother Trupti Bhangde, and players of Vidarbha Karate Association were also present during the presser.