Senior Journalist. Chandigarh.
The world’s oldest great marathon runner Fauja Singh died in a road accident on Monday. He was 114 years old. He was walking outside his house in Jalandhar in the evening when a car hit him. He was seriously injured. Family members took him to a private hospital in the city where doctors declared him dead. Fauja Singh started his marathon journey in the year 2000 and eventually participated in eight races.
Originally from Beas in Punjab, Fauja Singh lived in Britain and had created many records by participating in Veteran Athletics Championships at the international level. He was a big fan of 100-year-old veteran athlete Bibi Mann Kaur from Chandigarh. Fauja Singh, who reached Sukhna Lake during a program, had said that if you want to live a long life, then walk and exercise daily and avoid junk food.
Fauja Singh was very impressed with the performance of India’s elderly runner Bibi Mann Kaur. Whenever Mann Kaur went abroad to participate in any international athletics event, especially in Britain, Fauja Singh would definitely go to meet her. He used to encourage Mann Kaur by clapping on seeing her running on the athletics track. Once when Mann Kaur was 97 years old, Fauja Singh came to Chandigarh from Britain especially to participate in a marathon organized in Mohali. Mann Kaur also ran in that marathon. Seeing her running with runners half her age, Fauja Singh had said … O vekho daudhi sardarni Mann Kaur. He also said that everyone should take inspiration from Mann Kaur. She is winning medals while running even at this age, it is very praiseworthy.
Fauja Singh had come to Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake to participate in a program. Before the program, he took a walk on the lake shore for a while and then ran on the track. When he ran halfway across the lake without stopping, the people present there were surprised to see him. When people came to know that this is the same Fauja Singh who has crossed the age of 100, everyone rushed to get his autograph. There he shared the secret of his health and said that even at this age he does not depend on any machine. He runs daily and does almost all his work himself. He told that he pays special attention to his diet and does not eat junk food at all. He believed that if you want a long and healthy life, then do regular walks and exercise and avoid junk food.
Fauja Singh started his marathon career in the year 2000 and participated in a total of eight international marathons. In 2011, he caught the world’s attention by participating in the Toronto Marathon and gained fame as the world’s oldest marathon runner. However, his name could not be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records due to not having a birth certificate.
In 2012, he surprised everyone once again by completing a 20 km race in the London Marathon. In 2013, at the age of 101, he completed his last professional race by participating in the Hong Kong Marathon. Fauja Singh once said that a deep personal loss in life had broken him from within and he started moving towards depression. At the same time, he decided to start long distance running and inspired millions of people with his willpower and self-confidence.
Fauja Singh turned to marathon running after a tragic personal loss in his life. At the age of 89, his wife and son died in an accident. This incident shook him to the core and he started battling depression, after which he decided to join long distance running and inspired millions of people around the world with his perseverance and determination.
Fauja Singh was born in 1911. He could not walk till the age of five. His legs were thin and weak. In the 90s, he settled in the city of Ilford in East England with his son. He took up running seriously at the age of 89 and participated in many international marathons.
Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulabchand Kataria has condoled the death of Veteran athlete Fauja Singh. The Administrator said that Fauja Singh was not only a runner but he was a symbol of determination, inspiration and hope. Kataria told that he had got a chance to walk with Sardar Fauja Singh in the two-day Nasha Mukt-Rangla Punjab March which started from his native village in December 2024. He said that even at that time his energy and presence had filled the entire campaign with enthusiasm.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh condoled the death of Fauja Singh. He wrote in a post on social media, ‘Extremely saddened to hear the news of the death of great marathon runner Fauja Singh ji in a road accident at the age of 114. His simple life and unwavering courage will continue to inspire generations. May God give peace to his soul.’