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Fauja Singh, assumed to have been the world’s oldest Marathon Runner, Tragically died on Monday on Monday of injuries he was inflicted after he was hit by a car while crossing a road in India. He was 114.
Singh, assumed to have been born in 1911, was taken to a hospital after reports say he was suffering serious head injuries after being hit by a car in his original village near Jaland has in Punjab.
British Indian marathon runner Fauja Singh, 101, jogging during a practice in a park in Hong Kong February 21, 2013. Singh will take part in a 10 -kilometer race at the Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday, before officially retiring from public races. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)
His running coach, Harmander Singh, confirmed his death on social media.
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“Dear runners, it is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and power center with positivity, Fauja Singh, has died in India, 114 years old,” his statement began. “He succumbed to injuries caused by a vehicle accident while crossing the road close to his home.”
Harviner Singh, a top district police officer in the area, told BBC This law enforcement is still searching for the driver of the vehicle.
Singh started running at the age of 89 after tragedy hit his family. He had lost his wife and son, but it was his son’s tragic death that Singh said had brought his depression. His son, Kuldip, was decapitated in an agricultural accident in 1994. Singh had witnessed the horrible accident.
The world’s oldest marathon runner, 94 -year -old Fauja Singh (C), movements before the start of a short version of the 6 km international marathon in Lahore, January 30, 2005. (Mohsin Raza/Reuters)
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Later moved to London To live with his youngest son and soon discovered his love to run.
“From a tragedy has come a lot of success and happiness,” Singh said, after he ran the London Marathon in 2000. He competed in several marathons and his best finish was at the Toronto Marathon in 2003, finishing the race in 5 hours and 40 minutes.
In 2011, at the age of 100, Singh became the oldest man to end a marathon. However, the record was not officially recognized by Guinness World Records because he did not have a birth certificate to prove his age.
Government officials in India had stated that birth registers were not held at the time Singh was born. He had a British passport that stated his date of birth as April 1, 1911.
The British Indian marathon runner Fauja Singh, 101, and accompanied Indian runners waves to fans after completing the 10 -kilometer race of the Hong Kong Marathon February 24, 2013. Singh officially goes back from competitive races after Sunday’s marathon. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)
Tribute to Singh poured into social media after the news of his death. Among them was a statement from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Fauja Singh Ji was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the way he inspired India’s youth on a very important topic of fitness,” Modi said in a post about X. “He was a unique athlete with incredible determination. Pain by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”
Singh’s Race Club in London, Sikhs in the city, said it plans to honor his legacy at his upcoming events.
