Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to centenarian marathon runner Fauja Singh, who died in a hit-and-run accident in Jalandhar district on Monday, saying he was extraordinary because of his unique persona and how he inspired the youngsters of India in fitness.
Fauja Singh, who was 114 years old, died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle while crossing a road at his native Beas village in Jalandhar district on Monday afternoon.
Modi posted on X that Fauja Singh was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. “Fauja Singh ji was extraordinary because of his unique persona and how he inspired the youth of India on the critical topic of fitness. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”
In a condolence message on X, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said: “The world’s oldest runner, Fauja Singh, who brought glory to the Sikh community all over the world through his long runs, will always live in our hearts and memories. Heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones.”
Former Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal also paid tributes, saying: “The world has lost a great hero of the sports arena, but he will live forever in history and our hearts. His passion at an advanced age will remain an inspiration for generations to come.”
Fauja Singh was born in Beas Pind, Jalandhar, Punjab, then part of British India, on April 1, 1911. He was the youngest of four children in a farming family.
Fauja Singh’s childhood was not an easy one. His family thought he was crippled as he was not able to walk until he was five years old. Due to thin and weak legs, he could hardly walk long distances. As a young man, he took to farming to support his family.
In 1992, he moved to England and settled in East London with his son after his wife Gian Kaur’s death in Jalandhar.
Fauja Singh took to running after the death of his fifth son, Kuldip, in August 1994. He started jogging initially to overcome the grief.
However, it was not until 2000 that Fauja Singh, at the age of 89, decided to take up running seriously. He shot to fame when he completed the London Marathon that year, his maiden full marathon run, in 6 hours and 54 minutes. In the process, he knocked 58 minutes off the previous world’s best in the 90-plus age bracket.
Fauja Singh never looked back after that. The marathoner ran marathons in New York, Toronto, and Mumbai. He was closely monitored by his trainer, Harminder Singh, throughout his career.
Fauja Singh went one step further by completing the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon in five hours and 40 minutes in the ‘over 90’ category – his personal best timing.
Nicknamed the Turbaned Tornado, Fauja Singh also raised funds for various charities while promoting the Sikh culture around the world by participating in various marathons.
In 2011, Fauja Singh, at the age of 100, achieved eight world age-group records in a single day at the special Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet, at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto, Canada.
