Bhubaneswar: A man in Orissa aspires to create a world record in running backwards for more than 50 km at a stretch. He claims that he can now run backwards for 100 metres in just 12 seconds.

Purnachandra Tripathy, a 38-year-old resident of Subarnapur village in the coastal district of Cuttack, works as a guard in the local forest department and claims to be running in this manner for more than two decades.

Tripathy demonstrated his skills Jan 3 on the occasion of the 45th foundation day of the Paradeep Port in the coastal district of Jagatsinghpur. He ran for about 21 kilometres at a stretch in two hours in a marathon race organised for the event.

Apart from walking and running backwards, the forest guard has also done stunts like lifting a 36-kg object as well as pulling a jeep or car with his teeth.

"I haven't got any financial support from anybody," Tripathy, a father of two minor daughters, told IANS.