Onkar Singh in New Delhi - Rediff.com

Chandigarh, May 9: Legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh has said that the coach of sensational long distance runner Budhia Singh is exploiting the four-year-old to attract media attention at the cost of the innocent child who does not realise that he has become a pawn in the hands of his coach.

Speaking from Chandigarh, Milkha said that training for an athlete should begin only after he has reached the age of ten and not before.

"I have seen the reports about this young child. I think a great injustice is being done to young Budhia by his coach Biranchi Dass who has been forcing the boy to run 65-75 kilometres for the sake of entering into the Limca book of records.

"I do not know why he is doing that or what are the motives behind it besides getting some cheap publicity," the legend said.

He said that if the coach continues to experiment with the child, then Budhia's life might be in danger.

Dr Sandeep Guleria, of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, who specialises in kidney transplantation, said that he would personally like to have a look at the boy and examine him.

"I would welcome an opportunity to have a close examination of Budhia. Excessive running in the oppressive heat of Orissa would lead to sudden collapse of kidney resulting the death of the boy," Dr Guleria said.

However Dr Rani Bhatia, a psychiatrist, does not agree with Guleria.

"I have seen Budhia running and he has extraordinary ability. But I do believe that his coach ought to have waited at least for two more years."

"A close look needs to be maintained on the health and blood pressure of Budhia. Even in countries like China and Russia those wanting to take up gymnastics start after the age of seven or eight," she said.

The National Human Rights Commission has sent a notice to Orissa government on the matter raised by some non-governmental organisations dealing with children.

The commission is awaiting for a reply from the Orissa government.