INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Mandla Naga Prasad is all focus as he creates a new typing record, in the city on Tuesday. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD : A new world record for 101-hour marathon typing on computer was successfully attempted by Mandla Naga Prasad at the Indian Institute of Planning and Management, Erramanzil on Tuesday.

Soon after savouring the proud moment amidst cheers from his friends and onlookers at 10.30 a.m., Prasad was back at the computer determined to clock 111 hours. Dr. Bakhtiar Choudhary, Prasad's mentor and Sports Medicine consultant, declared Prasad fit enough to go on for few more hours. The new record surpasses the earlier one of 50 hours held by M. Sandeep.

Landmark event

Prasad began the marathon event on August 10 to achieve the landmark event on Independence Day. Having authored the book `A Journey Between Two Great Nations', he chose to type pages from the same book for the marathon event.

For 29-year-old Prasad, an engineer pursuing his MBA at the Indian Institute of Planning and Management, the attempt has twin objectives. Sending a message for restoration of peace between India and Pakistan and finding sponsors to pursue his passion for rifle shooting. "I am part of State team and will take part in national event next year," he says.

Looking fit even after 101 hours of non-stop typing with a break of 10 minutes for every one hour, Prasad already holds national records in making and flying 505 paper rockets in one hour, 35 hours and 45 minutes marathon typing and passing all backlog 29 engineering theory subjects in 21 days.

No support from kin

Although all alone after the death of his mother, financially broke and with no support from relatives, Prasad, instead of being bogged down, chose to strive hard.

He took up various jobs -- stage and web designing to marketing -- to support himself while pursuing Electronics engineering in Gogte Institute of Technology, Belgaum. He moved to city in 2004 to pursue rifle shooting and an MBA degree.

Revealing the motivation to achieve national and world records, he says, "The records gave me an identity in the absence of my family and won me support from well-wishers."

Attributing his marathon event success to his friends whom he calls his assets, Prasad says his philosophy is `never give up'. "Youth could achieve any objective in the face of adversity with focus and determination."

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