3-yr scholarship at Minerva for 'midnight runner'

Mohali, April 20

Nineteen-year-old Pradeep Mehra of Almora, who became a social media sensation after a video of him running on Noida roads preparing for Army recruitment went viral around a month ago, has joined Minerva Academy here under a three-year scholarship programme.

@THE_RanjitBajaj sir ek hi dil hai kitni baar jeetoge https://t.co/vuyFOl7FaA

— RIP Mumma ❤️ (@akashcr699) April 14, 2022

The teenager harbours a dream to join the Army. Till recently, Pradeep was working as a cook at a Noida eatery. The ‘midnight runner’ used to run for 10 km between his workplace and home every night as part of his fitness regime.

Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj tweeted, “It is my duty to give an opportunity to someone who wants to serve our country. I am happy to help such hard-working boys.”

Thousands of youth in north India and other parts of the country run on roads for hours to train themselves and clear the mandatory fitness test of the Army recruitment exam. —