Cyclist from Nellikaru enters Limca records

Team Udayavani, May 25, 2018, 3:35 PM IST

Mangaluru: A cyclist from Dakshina Kannada has entered the India Book of Records on two fronts for a cycling expedition he undertook from Kashmir to Kanyakumari recently. The cyclist is identified as Prasad Vijay Shetty from Nellikaru, a village in Moodbidri.

Two of his achievements has secured his name in the book of record for being the first to cycle from Kashmir to Kanyakumari twice; and completing the trip in the quickest time of 19 days.

On Thursday May 24^th, Prasad addressed a press meet and said, “I undertook the first expedition from January 11, 2017 to March 12, 2017- a total of 61 days. I undertook that initiative with the motive of ‘Clean India-Green India’ and made a solo cycle expedition from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. It was a great success.”

I undertook the second expedition – a solo ride again, without any backup, from March 24 to April 11 this year and completed the entire course of 4000 km in 19 days, a Indian record. I made this expedition with two intentions – ‘Pedal for Defence People’ and ‘Include Tulu in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution’. My primary purpose for the second expedition was to make Tulu language famous, and I displayed the Tulunadu flag throughout the journey,” Prasad explained.

Prasad Shetty, a former 3D animator at Dadasahib Phalke Film studio in Gurgaon, is also an avid rock-climber and mountaineer.

“I set two new records during this expedition. The first pertains to a record set for completing the trip in the shortest time – 19 days. I bettered the record of 23 days set by Santhosh Holi of Maharashtra. The second record states that I am the first man to complete the cycling expedition from Kashmir to Kanyakumari twice,” he added.

“I have the vision of setting many more records in the future. At the moment, I have my sight set on fulfilling a dream of mine as a mountaineer – to climb Mount Everest. I request the support of benefactors willing to fund this expedition as it costs around Rs 40 lakh,” he requested.