Thursday August 30, 2007
Malaysian pulls train with teeth in world record bid
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian nicknamed "King Tooth'' pulled a seven-coach train using a steel rope clenched in his mouth Thursday, a feat that organizers said was a new world record for the heaviest weight pulled with teeth.
Grunting and gasping, Rathakrishnan Velu's neck muscles strained and his face contorted as he hauled the 297.1-metric-ton (327.50 U.S. tons) train over 2.8 meters (9 feet, 2.2 inches) along tracks.
The feat is expected to be recognized by Guinness World Records in two to three weeks after verification of the data, said Rathakrishnan's manager, Anna Chidambar.
"I don't know what toothpaste he uses but I am sure a lot companies will be looking to endorse their products from Rathakrishnan,'' said Maximus Ongkili, a Cabinet minister, who witnessed the effort at a railway station in Kuala Lumpur.
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Rathakrishnan Velu attempts to pull with his teeth a seven-coach train with a combined weight of 297.1 tonnes at an old railway station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday.. Rathakrishnan dragged himself back on the rail tracks to haul the the 297.1 tonne (327.5 short tons) train over a distance of 2.8 meters (9 feet and 2 inches). (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) |
Rathakrishnan, a strict vegetarian ethnic Indian, holds the previous world record for the heaviest weight pulled with teeth. He had dragged a 260.8-metric-ton (287.48 U.S. tons) train over 4.2 meters (13 feet, 9.3 inches) on Oct. 18, 2003.
Rathakrishnan, who partially attributes his strength to an Indian form of meditation, was hoping to pull the heavier train more than 4.2 meters (13 feet, 9.3 inches) on Thursday but could manage only 2.8 meters (9 feet, 2.2 inches) in the first attempt.
His second and third attempts resulted in the train moving distances of 0.73 meters (2 feet, 4.7 inches) and 2.48 meters (8 feet, 1.6 inches).
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Rathakrishnan Velu attempts to pull with his teeth a seven-coach train with a combined weight of 297.1 tonnes at an old railway station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday - AP |
An exhausted Rathakrishnan spoke only briefly to reporters, saying that in addition to the meditation exercises, he runs at least 25 kilometers (15.53 miles), lifts bars up to 250 kilograms (551.15 pounds) and does jaw training daily, waking up at 4.30 a.m.
Before beginning the attempt, Rathakrishnan closed his eyes and breathed heavily, holding the left index finger against his nose and right index finger against his chest.
He then touched his forehead and the top of his head before sitting on the ground to start pulling. - AP
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