New Delhi: CRPF officer RK Singh, awarded the 'Shaurya Chakra' for a daring operation against Naxals in 2011, displayed his mettle on Sunday when he ran a short distance on prosthetic blades in a half-marathon held here to salute martyrs.
The 38-year-old, who undertook the shorter version of the half-marathon with his 12-year-old son Prakhar by his side, was lauded for his grit by cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar who flagged off the event from the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium here.
"I salute your courage. You are an inspiration. We are just sports persons but you are the true achievers," Sachin told Singh as he met him on the flag off dais.
Actors John Abraham and Nana Patekar, who were part of the same event, walked up to the officer to compliment him for his dare devil approach in life.
Singh has his left leg amputated and has injury to the right one after the Naxal ambush.
The officer, who has been promoted as a Deputy Commandant in CRPF after it was long overdue, has become the first blade runner hailing from security forces combating India's internal conflicts to run a marathon like sporting event.
"I am enthused to undertake this new challenge. It's not difficult. Today I am just taking the fun run but I will train further to run seriously and as competitively as possible," Singh told PTI on the running track.
Singh has seen many odds in his relatively small career in the paramilitary force with the recent being when he was put in a low medical category two years back after the ambush incident which led to a denial of promotion.
As a company commander, he led his troops in a Naxal ambush in Jharkhand's Lohardaga where he encountered blasts triggered by 192 Improvised Explosive Devices.
‘Swachh Bharat’ resolve
Sachin also batted for taking forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolve of a 'Swachh Bharat' as he said that clean surroundings should be complemented with the creation of a healthy individual.
"Outdoor sports and activity is very essential as this ensures that the health of the nation remains good. As our Prime Minister has given a call to all of us to create a clean India, I would urge you to also build a healthy body. Clean surroundings and healthy body keep the nation fit," he said.
Every child, the 'Bharat Ratna' awardee said, should "get involved" in outdoor activities and sports.
Sachin was one of the nine icons who were chosen by Modi to take forward the ambitious 'Swachh Bharat' or clean Indian campaign that was launched on October 2 by the Prime Minister on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
