Nakul Shivani / New Delhi

Ultra-runner Sufiya Sufi has returned to India after completing her record-breaking run across the Arab country of Qatar last week, and has already started dreaming of her next goal – a run cross the United Arab Emirates.

35-year-old Sufiya finished her 192-kilometer run from south to north of Qatar on January 12-13, in a little over 30 hours and etched her name in the Guinness Book of records for the fourth time.

She had earlier completed runs from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Manali to Leh and across the four metro cities of India to make it to the record books.

Reacting on her latest achievement, Sufiya told Awazthevoice.in that “this run is special, since this was the first time I was running in a foreign country.”

Initially apprehensive about running outside India, Sufiya says the support she got in Qatar was unthinkable, that allowed her to concentrate on her running without any mental distractions. “The Indian community, local running community, all came out in support. They made me very comfortable, looking after my smallest of needs. This made my run easy.”

"Running in Qatar was like running in a cold desert" - Sufiya Sufi

Talking about her time on the road where she ran the fastest across Qatar, she says the cold windy conditions brought its own challenge. “It was like a cold desert, very windy” she says. “But I was determined and the love and support I got from the locals there made me overcome the challenge easily.”

Currently, recovering from the strenuous mission, Sufiya, has now set her eyes on a run across the United Arab Emirates next. “I want to create a record by running across the UAE in seven days,” she says. This is what she is planning to do in November.

But for this, like the Qatar run, she will need funds. Sufiya has been knocking on the doors of the government to fund her record-breaking missions.

"A little help from the government will help me fly the Indian flag higher across the globe" - Sufiy Sufi

“I run with the Indian flag on my heart. I wish there was little more support in terms of finances and logistics. That will help me fly the Indian flag higher across the globe,” she says. After all, there is the run across the continents she wants to accomplish before the end of next year.

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But before her global run, there is UAE waiting. “One month’s rest and then I will beck to the grind to prepare for my next record,” she says before signing-off.