Kurd breaks punch-bag marathon world record in Duhok, approval pending

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A Kurdish Kung fu fighter completed an attempt on Thursday night to beat the world record for the longest punch-bag marathon, after two continuous days of punching encouraged by supportive Duhok residents.

Beginning on Tuesday, Mustafa Rasheed, 22, struck the punch bag for 55 hours, 14 minutes and 23 seconds. He awaits confirmation of the success of his attempt from Guinness World Records, the leading authority on world record attempts.

The record was last broken by Azad Haidarian, a Kurd from the city of Sanandaj, Iran on August 11, 2018. Haidarian was able to keep punching for 55 hours, 10 minutes and four seconds straight.

Rasheed’s attempt was monitored by local sports unions and recorded in its entirety to be submitted as evidence to Guinness World Records. If labeled “approved,” their experts will assess whether he can be granted the title.

“[O]ur expert Records Management Team will assess your evidence. If your attempt is verified as successful, you will be eligible for one complimentary Official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Record-Holder Certificate to confirm your record-holder status!,” according to the body.

Rasheed became nocturnal for a week before the challenge, to ready himself for the sleepless nights it would pose. An exhausted Rasheed was hospitalized upon the challenge’s end to receive medical treatment. 

“I had the idea a week ago. I have been a Kung fu fighter for six years. I have been training continuously,” he told Rudaw on Friday after waking up from a long, recuperative sleep.

Manhal Khalid, a sports trainer, helped keep Rasheed on his feet by feeding him and massaging his legs. 

“We want to monitor his muscles because there is a lot of pressure on them. We are providing physiotherapy to treat him,” he told Rudaw while Rasheed was engaged in the record attempt.

Duhok province residents including officials, comedians and family members visited Gardun sports center over the course of the attempt to keep his morale up, telling him jokes and reminding him of how proud they were. In an act of support for his feat, a friend of Rasheed’s told Rudaw they would stay awake for the entire length of the attempt.

“We have supported him a lot and decided not to sleep as long as he is awake,” Masoud Yousef said.

Rasheed thanked Kurds as a whole for their support, without which he said he would not have succeeded. 

“We as Kurds broke this record together because all Kurds supported me,” he said.
 
According to Guinness World Records, approval of an attempt to break a world record can take up to 12 weeks.