When the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025 (TMM) gets underway on January 19, Kolkata's Asif Iqbal will be one to watch out for considering what he is pursuing to achieve at the prestigious event.

The Kolkata man, who is a blind runner, is aiming to create an encore at the TMM 2025 by planning to complete the Full Marathon and become the first blind runner ever to achieve the feat without any physical assistance or touch from buddy runners.

Iqbal's efforts could see him etch his name in the Guiness Book of World Records.

And not only that Iqbal, who works as Associate Director at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) India, is also targeting the Procam Slam, which is a new feature introduced this year where the runner who participates and completes the feature race in all four Procam running events beginning with TMM 2025 will be become the Procam Slam champion.

He also created an Asian record when he became the first blind runner to complete the 25k being completely blindfolded and without any physical assistance or help from buddy runners.

"From not being able to run even 10 metres to completing the 25k at Tata Steel Kolkata 25k, it has been a great journey for me. I am thankful to my family and everyone who supported me along the journey. I'm looking forward to the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025 and compelete the Full Marathon there," Iqbal added.

Iqbal's story is a fascinating one as he had lost his sight early in life due to a genetic disease.

The man from Bihar migrated to the US at the age of 11 and did his early education there and he had turned completely blind at the age of 16.

What makes him stand apart is his attitude and approach towards to life.

"The only disability a person can have is a bad attitude."

It was about seven years back when he was diagnosed with hypertension that Iqbal started taking walking, running and fitness seriously.

"The doctor told me that I have to make changes to my lifestyle given the health problems I have been having and that made me take to walking initially and later running."

Iqbal was the first blind commerce graduate from St Xaviers College, Kolkata and the first blind MBA in HR from Symbiosis, Pune.

He was instrumental in creating reservation quota for disabled in IIMs, IITs and all government universities in India.

In a career spanning 17 years, the visually challenged man has worked on prestigious projects such as Aadhar, Digital Yatra and Smart City.

He has been recognized with the National Award, West Bengal State Role Model Award, United Nation ICONGO Community Change Champion Award.

His weight loss journey has also been an inspiring one bringing his weight down from 108 kg to 83 kg.

Iqbal remains grateful to his American mother Rebecca and his wife Sajida Iqbal and daughter Sara Iqbal.