Digital Desk: Para-athlete Kamalakanta Nayak from Odisha is all set to enter the Guinness Book of Records by covering 200 km in 24 hours in his wheelchair.
Reportedly, he will start his journey on his manual wheelchair from Master Canteen Square to Rajmahal Square Cycle Track Point in Odisha.
Speaking to the media, Nayak said, "After my spinal cord injury, I had suicidal thoughts, but with the help of my family members, coach, and doctors, I recovered with time."
My sister, Dr P P Mohanty, and my coach, S Vaidyanathan, in particular, inspired me to recover from my illness and compete as a para-athlete. When I was in bed, they helped me so much that I was able to run a marathon." he added.
The State Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, as well as the Betterlife Foundation, a city-based NGO, are assisting Nayak in his bid to set the Guinness World Record for 'Greatest Distance Covered in a Manual Wheelchair in 24 Hours.'
Kamalakanta had previously competed in 'The Ability Marathon' held at Kalinga Stadium. Notably, he is the only Indian to complete a 139.57 km wheelchair ultra-marathon in just 15 hours.
Additionally, he has also participated in the 2-kilometer half-marathon for 16 times and in the 42-kilometer full marathon for 13 times. Moreover, Nayak led the Odisha Wheelchair Basketball Team as captain.
He has also competed twice in the National Para Athletics Championship and the National Wheelchair Fencing Championship.
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