114-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh dies in road accident in Punjab
Sources said that Singh was hit by an unidentified vehicle on the evening of July 14 as he was crossing the road at his native Beas village near Jalandhar.
"My father was going for a walk when an unidentified vehicle hit him. He suffered head injuries. We immediately rushed him to a private hospital; however, he succumbed to his injuries," said his son Harvinder Singh.
Singh was born on April 1, 1911, at Beas village in Jalandhar, Punjab. He was the youngest of four children in his family. In 1992, he moved to England and settled in East London with his son after the death of his wife, Gian Kaur.
Singh started his marathon career in 2000 at the age of 89 as he decided to take up running and took part in the London Marathon that year, and shot to fame as he completed the marathon. It was his maiden full marathon, which he completed in six hours and fifty-four minutes. He broke the previous world record of 58 minutes in the 90-plus age bracket.
He also ran New York, Toronto and Mumbai marathons.
In 2003, he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in five hours and forty minutes in the 90-plus category, which was his personal best timing.
On October 16, 2011, Singh became the first centenarian to finish a marathon, making him the oldest marathoner as he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, eleven minutes and six seconds. It was a world record, but the Guinness World Records refused to recognise it as Singh could not produce his birth certificate.
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Business Standard
37 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Who was Fauja Singh, the 'Turbaned Tornado' who ran a marathon at 100?
Veteran marathon runner Fauja Singh, who became the world's oldest person to complete a full marathon at the age of 100, passed away on Monday after being struck by a vehicle in Jalandhar, Punjab. He was 114. Singh was out for a walk in Beas village when he was hit by an unidentified vehicle, suffering severe head injuries. He later succumbed to his injuries, news agency PTI reported. His death was confirmed by author Khushwant Singh, who wrote 'The Turbaned Tornado', a biography of the celebrated athlete. My Turbaned Tornado is no more. It is with great sadness that I share the passing of my most revered S. Fauja Singh. He was struck by an unidentified vehicle around 3:30 PM today in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja . — Khushwant Singh (@Singhkhushwant) July 14, 2025 A life of endurance and inspiration Born on April 1, 1911, into a farming family, Fauja Singh was the youngest of four siblings. According to his biography, he was unable to walk until the age of five, but later built resilience working on farms and credited his strength to family support and faith. Fauja Singh moved to London in 1993 after the death of his wife Gian Kaur, to live with one of his sons. It was during this time that he took up long walks and running in public parks—habits that would spark an extraordinary late-in-life athletic career. Record-breaking marathon journey In 2000, at the age of 89, Singh ran his first marathon—the London Marathon—after meeting coach Harmandar Singh. Between 2000 and 2011, he completed nine full marathons, including six London Marathons, two Toronto Marathons, and the New York Marathon. He became the first person aged 100 to finish a full marathon, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2011 in 8 hours and 11 minutes. Singh also participated in 10-km races globally, including in Hong Kong and Lahore. His participation in the Lahore event drew praise from then-Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Honours and legacy Fauja Singh was honoured with the Ellis Island Medal of Honour by the National Ethnic Coalition in the US in 2013. In 2015, he received a British Empire Medal for his contributions to sports and charity. He was also chosen as a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, a testament to his global recognition and inspirational journey. Singh retired from competitive running in 2013 but continued to be an icon of perseverance, often seen advocating fitness and mental strength for the elderly.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Who Was Fauja Singh? 114-Year-Old, Who Ran Marathons World Over, Died In Road Accident
Last Updated: Fauja Singh received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honour from the National Ethnic Coalition on November 13, 2003, recognising him as a powerful symbol of racial tolerance. Veteran marathoner Fauja Singh passed away at the age of 114 after being struck by an unidentified vehicle in his native village in Punjab's Jalandhar district. The tragic incident occurred in Bias village, where Singh was out for his routine walk when he was hit, suffering severe head injuries. He succumbed to his injuries later that evening, according to a local police official who confirmed the details. His death was also confirmed by author Khushwant Singh, former Punjab State Information Commissioner, who spoke to members of Fauja Singh's family. Khushwant Singh had chronicled the athlete's extraordinary life in his biography, The Turbaned The 'Sikh Superman' Who Redefined Age And Endurance Fauja Singh, often hailed as the 'Sikh Superman," was born on April 1, 1911, according to his biography. He faced early physical challenges and was unable to walk until the age of five. Initially a casual runner, Singh's life, like many others, was deeply disrupted by the Partition of India, which left lasting personal and emotional scars. Years later, after suffering a series of devastating personal losses, including the deaths of several family members, Singh returned to running as a way to cope with grief and depression. His passion for the sport reignited, he moved to England in the 1990s to live with his son and, remarkably, at the age of 89, he ran his first marathon—the London Marathon—in 2000. What began as a personal comeback soon evolved into a record-setting journey. Singh entered several international marathons, including in Toronto and New York, becoming a global sensation in his age group. Over the years, he completed six full marathons, inspiring people around the world with his determination and spirit. In 2012, he was a special guest at the 2nd Annual Chardikala Run in Malaysia. The event was themed '101 and Running" in honour of his exceptional longevity and achievements. During the closing ceremony, Singh received the prestigious BrandLaureate Award on stage. On February 24, 2013, just weeks shy of his 102nd birthday, Singh ran his final competitive race—a 10-kilometre event at the Hong Kong Marathon, which he completed in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds. While he officially retired from competitive running after that, he expressed his commitment to continue running for personal well-being and to support charitable causes. Fauja Singh's journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the boundless potential of the human spirit, regardless of age. World Records Broken By Fauja Singh 100m – 23.40 seconds (previous 29.83) 200m – 52.23 seconds (previous 77.59 seconds) 400m – 2:13.48 (previous 3:41.00) 800m – 5:32.18 (no previous record) 1,500m – 11:27.00 (previous 16:46.00) Mile – 11:53.45 (no previous record) 3,000m – 24:52.47 (no previous record) 5,000m – 49:57.39 (no previous record) Awards Won By Singh Fauja Singh received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honour from the National Ethnic Coalition on November 13, 2003, recognising him as a powerful symbol of racial tolerance. Remarkably, he was the first non-American ever to be bestowed with the award. In 2011, he was further celebrated with the Pride of India title for his extraordinary achievements and inspiration to millions. A lifelong vegetarian and advocate for healthy living, Singh also holds the distinction of being the oldest man to feature in a PETA campaign. His global appeal even saw him appear in a high-profile advertisement for a major sportswear brand, sharing the screen with legends David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Who Was Fauja Singh? 114-Year-Old Marathoner Who Defied Age And Became An Inspiration
The entire sports fraternity of India mourned the loss of the world's oldest marathoner, Fauja Singh. The 114-year-old passed away on Monday after he was involved in a road accident. According to a report in BBC Punjabi, a car hit him on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway on Monday afternoon. He suffered a serious head injury and was immediately rushed to a hospital. However, he succumbed to the injuries. Condolences from all over the country started to pour in as India lost an icon, who was considered an inspiration for the masses. Who was Fauja Singh? Popularly known as the "Turbaned Tornado", Fauja was born on April 1, 1911 in Beyas village, Jalandhar, Punjab. Being born even before the first World War, Fauja saw a lot of historic moments getting unfold during his lifetime. The biggest and the darkest moment came in 1947 during India's partition, which completely turned his life upside down. In the 90s, he shifted to England to live with one of his sons. In 2000, at the age of 89, Fauja made his debut at the London Marathon. He then grabbed everyone's attention as he went on to join international marathons in Toronto, New York, and others within his age group. He was a torchbearer for the 2004 Athens Games and 2012 London Olympics, and appeared in an advertisement for a major sports brand several years ago alongside the likes of David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. In 2012, Malaysia organised the 2nd Annual Chardikala Run with the theme of "101 and running". The event was a tribute to Fauja's marvelous achievements and was honoured on stage with the BrandLaureate Award during the closing ceremony. In 2013, Fauja participated in the Hong Kong marathon, where he completed the race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds. Following this, he announced his retirement from running at the age of 102. However, he continued running for his well-being and charitable causes.
