Karnataka - Belgaum   

Rolling his way to glory

Fighting fit: Rohan Ajit Kokane

Belgaum: At seven, this boy is looking forward to create a world record in limbo skating.

Rohan, son of Ajit Kokane of Belgaum, is working hard to create a history on Independence Day by skating under bars with a clearance height of 6 inches, not only in the forward direction but also in reverse skating.

If this happens, Rohan will be the second roller skater in the world after Zoey Beda of the U.S., who has earned nickname “Roller Limbo Princess” when she created a history by skating in reverse direction under 11 inches clearing height. But, Rohan will be setting a new world record by reverse skating under bars with 6 inches of clearing height, Mr. Kokane told The Hindu here on Monday.

He said that three-year-old Krishna Gawo of Udaipur in Rajasthan had skated under a bus with a clearance height of 11 inches in September last. Uttam Gahlo, also from Udaipur, had rolled under a car with a clearance height of 6.75 inches, which his coach had claimed a record in 5-year category.

In 1999, Xue Wang (6) of Beijing performed the forward split under a bar set at 5.75 inches height.

But, there is no official record anywhere in the world about any limbo skater having skated for 6-inch clearance height, Mr. Ajit said.

He said Rohan has been skating since two years. He has won district and state level championships, two times each. Besides, he participated in several awareness rallies for the community, including the rally taken out from Khanapur to Belgaum (25 km) on “Ban on Child Labour” and “Donate Blood Save Life;” from Kolhapur to Belgaum (110 km) on “AIDS Hatavo Desh Bachao;” Belgaum to Bangalore (500 km) on “Suvarna Karnataka Skating Rally” and the rally on “Sarva Shikshan Abhiyan” held in Belgaum city during last one-and-a-half years.

Rohan, a Class II student of St. Xavier’s School in the city, is being trained by Suryakant Hindalgekar, Shashidhar Pol and Umesh Kalghatagi at the Belgaum Roller Skating Academy. Since Mr. Ajit is a petty businessman dealing in electrical goods and could not afford to sponsor Rohan’s August 15 event, Giant Group of Belgaum has come forward encourage the young skater. That apart, there are other individuals who too are supporting the event, which aims to put both Rohan and Belgaum on the world map of limbo skating.

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