Chandigarh,13.12.19-On 1st April 2019 this year he was riding his motorbike back from work to home in Bengaluru when ultra-marathon runner, Pranab Roy (28), met with a road accident which resulted in spinal injury and hospitalisation.

He was partially paralysed because of his injuries and doctors declared that he would only be able to walk with crutches and would not be able to run.

In July he was referred to PGIMER Chandigarh, for further treatment, and his company (IDP) transferred him to their branch here, which, however, he had to leave because of his medical condition.

Pranab Roy had represented India and became the only Indian to complete the 70kms non-stop trail running in the Asian Trail Masters in Indonesia in 2018.

Athletics Federation of India (AFI) selected him for the next Asian Trail Masters being held in Thailand in March 2020.

Doctors, however, were surprised to see his recovery and in last four months, he has moved from crutches to the field to practise his running.

"I was determined to get back to ultra-marathon running", he said.

During his hospitalisation, he slept with the first pair of trail shoes that he wore during the Asian Trail Masters in Indonesia, which he kept on the bed beside his pillow to keep reminding himself of his dream.

Pranab developed passion for trail running during his school times and in 2015 he joined the National Adventure Foundation to complete a 141kms trail run, 12000ft above the sea level in Darjeeling.

In 2016, he received Guinness World Records citation for completing the toughest terrain on western ghats in Maharashtra, the Satara Hill Marathon, and there was no looking back for him thereafter.

In 2017, he ran for the Indian Army, a 60kms non-stop run in Arunachal Pradesh, which he completed in 4 hours, 40 minutes, 23 seconds, and in January 2017 he again ran for the army in another marathon that won him appreciations.

In August 2018, he completed 116.15kms ultra-marathon in 26 hours and came first in the world with his performance at the Bengaluru Endurance Run.

On 14-15 July 2018, he became the first Indian to complete the Asian Trail Master, a 75kms run in 22 hours in a tough trail situated 18,600ft above sea level. He represented India and was selected by the Athletics Federation of India.

He holds the 628 positions in the world ranking in trail running as per Asian Trail Master records.

He has been selected by AFI to represent India in the next Asian Trail Masters in Thailand, a 70kms rough terrain to be completed within 24 hours.

On 29^th December 2019, he is going in for 12 hours non=stop running at an AFI ultra marathon running.

"I believe that everyone has the ability to master one's own destiny and be unstoppable," Pranab Roy says.

He is already up at 3:30am for four hours of practice in the Rose Garden daily, a routine which he is following for last fortnight; joyous at himself for having defeated his ailment to be back on the track.

(Pranab Roy, Mobile 82960 41470)