World's oldest marathon runner, 114, killed by car
Indian media reported Singh sustained severe head injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Monday while crossing the road at his native village near Jalandhar in Punjab.
He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
India's Prime minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh, saying he was "extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness".
Singh became the oldest man to run a full marathon in 2011 at the age of 100 in Toronto, but his accomplishment was not recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records because he did not have a birth certificate to prove his age.
Singh had a British passport that showed his date of birth as April 1, 1911, while a letter from Indian government officials stated that birth records were not kept in 1911.
A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh took up running at the age of 89 as a way to overcome depression after his wife and son died in quick succession in India.
He went to live with his youngest son in London, where he attended sporting events organised by the Sikh community and took part in sprints, before being convinced by Sikh marathon runners to take up that pursuit.
At the age of 89 in 2000 he ran the London Marathon, his first, and went on to complete eight more.
Singh ran his last competitive race in 2013 at the age of 101, finishing the Hong Kong Marathon's 10km race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, 28 seconds.
Fauja Singh, an Indian-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo who was believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, has died after being hit by a car. He was 114.
Indian media reported Singh sustained severe head injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Monday while crossing the road at his native village near Jalandhar in Punjab.
He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
India's Prime minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh, saying he was "extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness".
Singh became the oldest man to run a full marathon in 2011 at the age of 100 in Toronto, but his accomplishment was not recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records because he did not have a birth certificate to prove his age.
Singh had a British passport that showed his date of birth as April 1, 1911, while a letter from Indian government officials stated that birth records were not kept in 1911.
A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh took up running at the age of 89 as a way to overcome depression after his wife and son died in quick succession in India.
He went to live with his youngest son in London, where he attended sporting events organised by the Sikh community and took part in sprints, before being convinced by Sikh marathon runners to take up that pursuit.
At the age of 89 in 2000 he ran the London Marathon, his first, and went on to complete eight more.
Singh ran his last competitive race in 2013 at the age of 101, finishing the Hong Kong Marathon's 10km race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, 28 seconds.
Fauja Singh, an Indian-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo who was believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, has died after being hit by a car. He was 114.
Indian media reported Singh sustained severe head injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Monday while crossing the road at his native village near Jalandhar in Punjab.
He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
India's Prime minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh, saying he was "extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness".
Singh became the oldest man to run a full marathon in 2011 at the age of 100 in Toronto, but his accomplishment was not recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records because he did not have a birth certificate to prove his age.
Singh had a British passport that showed his date of birth as April 1, 1911, while a letter from Indian government officials stated that birth records were not kept in 1911.
A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh took up running at the age of 89 as a way to overcome depression after his wife and son died in quick succession in India.
He went to live with his youngest son in London, where he attended sporting events organised by the Sikh community and took part in sprints, before being convinced by Sikh marathon runners to take up that pursuit.
At the age of 89 in 2000 he ran the London Marathon, his first, and went on to complete eight more.
Singh ran his last competitive race in 2013 at the age of 101, finishing the Hong Kong Marathon's 10km race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, 28 seconds.
Fauja Singh, an Indian-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo who was believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, has died after being hit by a car. He was 114.
Indian media reported Singh sustained severe head injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Monday while crossing the road at his native village near Jalandhar in Punjab.
He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
India's Prime minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh, saying he was "extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness".
Singh became the oldest man to run a full marathon in 2011 at the age of 100 in Toronto, but his accomplishment was not recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records because he did not have a birth certificate to prove his age.
Singh had a British passport that showed his date of birth as April 1, 1911, while a letter from Indian government officials stated that birth records were not kept in 1911.
A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh took up running at the age of 89 as a way to overcome depression after his wife and son died in quick succession in India.
He went to live with his youngest son in London, where he attended sporting events organised by the Sikh community and took part in sprints, before being convinced by Sikh marathon runners to take up that pursuit.
At the age of 89 in 2000 he ran the London Marathon, his first, and went on to complete eight more.
Singh ran his last competitive race in 2013 at the age of 101, finishing the Hong Kong Marathon's 10km race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, 28 seconds.
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