
World's oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh dies in road accident aged 114
British marathon runner Fauja Singh died in Punjab, India, after being hit by a car while trying to cross a road.
Reports in India say he suffered fatal injuries in the accident in his birth village, Beas Pind, near Jalandhar in Punjab,
His London -based running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, confirmed his death and said their upcoming events in Ilford, east London, will be a celebration of his life and achievements.
Singh – who lived in Ilford from 1992 – made his name by beating a number of records for marathon times in multiple age brackets.
The centenarian became an inspiration for countless athletes by running marathons past the age of 100.
A profile on the Olympics website said Singh was born in Punjab, then under British rule, on April 1 1911 and was the youngest of four children in a farming family.
He was said to have suffered from thin and weak legs, and was unable to walk until he was five years old.
He moved to England and settled in east London with his son after the death of his wife Gian Kaur in Jalandhar.
It was not until 2000, aged 89, that he took up running, quickly rising to fame by completing his maiden marathon in London in six hours and 54 minutes.
This time knocked 58 minutes off the previous world's best in the 90-plus age bracket.
Singh ran numerous marathons, completing the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon in five hours and 40 minutes, his personal best.
On October 16 2011, in Toronto, the runner is thought to have become the first centenarian to run a marathon.
Guinness World Records described it as an 'inspirational achievement' but said it was unable to recognise the feat without the necessary proof of his date of birth.
Singh did not have a birth certificate, as official birth records were not kept in India in 1911, although the date of birth on his passport was April 1 1911, and he received a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II on his 100th birthday.
He was a torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics and retired at the age of 101.
Harmander Singh, Fauja Singh's coach at Sikhs In The City, confirmed his death in a statement posted to the running club.
'Dearest runners. It is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity Fauja Singh has passed away in India. Aged 114 years old.
'He succumbed to injuries caused by a vehicle accident while crossing the road close to his home.
'His running club and charity Sikhs In The City will be devoting all of its events until the Fauja Singh Birthday Challenge on Sunday March 29 2026 to celebrate his life of success and achievements.
'We will be doubling the efforts to raise funds to building the Fauja Singh Clubhouse on the route in Ilford where he used to train.
'In lieu of flowers please donate to his Clubhouse Appeal so we can carry on his legacy to encourage the world to keep fit and stay positive.'
Preet Kaur Gill MP said on X: 'Saddened to hear about the passing of Fauja Singh.
'I had the honour of meeting him. A truly inspiring man. His discipline, simple living, and deep humility left a lasting mark on me.
'A reminder that age is just a number, but attitude is everything. Rest in power, legend.'
Jas Athwal MP said on X: 'Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Sardar Fauja Singh Ji.
'He was legendary – a man who continued running until he was 101. He was a global Sikh icon, that inspired millions across the world.
'His spirit and legacy of resilience will run on forever. My heartfelt condolences to all his family and friends. We will miss him. RIP.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Superb India defy England to keep series alive
Fourth Rothesay Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day five of five)India 358 (Sudharsan 61; Stokes 5-72) & 425-4 (Jadeja 107*, Gill 103, Sundar 101*)England 669 (Root 150, Stokes 141; Jadeja 4-134)Match drawn, England lead series 2-1Scorecard India pulled off one of the great rearguards to defy England, earn a draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford and keep the series tourists batted more than five sessions in their second innings to reach 425-4 when the players shook hands. They had a lead of 113 when the draw was agreed with 10 overs of the match put in a mammoth effort on the fifth day, but were ultimately frustrated by India's determination, a pitch that only had sporadic spells of life and a crucial Joe Root ever, the home side looked to captain Ben Stokes for inspiration. After not bowling on day four, Stokes urged his fragile body through two spells, and had KL Rahul lbw for 90 at the beginning of the Shubman Gill wearily poked at Jofra Archer's spell with the second new ball, the prolific captain was out for 103 and England had an opportunity. India were four wickets down, 89 behind and had in excess of two sessions to Root put down Ravindra Jadeja from the first ball he faced. England barely got another chance as Jadeja and Washington Sundar each made centuries. Their stand was an unbroken meant England had to make do with only a second draw in 40 Tests since Stokes became captain in 2022, both on this ground, following the rain-affected stalemate with Australia in 2023. All four of Lancashire's County Championship matches on this ground this year have also been still lead 2-1 and somehow both teams must regroup for the final Test at The Oval, beginning on chief concern among some weary England bodies will be Stokes, who seemed to be feeling shoulder and upper leg problems throughout the will surely be without wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant because of a fractured foot. The tourists also have decision to make on key pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has played the maximum three Tests they stated he would before the series. Echoes of 2005 sets up live finale The tense, fluctuating and unpredictable nature of this series has had echoes of the epic 2005 Ashes. How apt that this ground has produced the same result - an unlikely draw – 20 years that occasion, Australia held on nine wickets down on a famous day when thousands of spectators were locked out of Old was not as raucous or dramatic as two decades ago, but India's escape is no less lunch on Saturday they were 0-2, 311 behind and all but beaten. That they go to The Oval with a chance of squaring the series says so much about their spirit, especially captain Gill, who is having a magnificent what state these teams will be in when they arrive in south London is anyone's guess. Apart from the Stokes worry, England may need to refresh all three of their specialist seamersIndia will bring in Dhruv Jurel for Pant, then have their own decisions on the fast bowlers. In terms of fatigue, the visitors at least have the benefit of being the team that has been batting for most of the past two days, while England have been in the field for 222 more overs more across the were hoping this would the day they would clinch the series and complete the first part of what they hope is a glorious double this year. Instead, they still have work to do. It is fitting this wonderful contest gets a live finale.


BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
What are your feelings on Gibbs-White contract?
'Nightmare start' for India as Woakes takes two wickets in first over. Video'Nightmare start' for India as Woakes takes two wickets in first over


Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
India pair Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja dent England's hopes of victory
England's hopes of a series-sealing win over India looked to be slipping away following stubborn resistance from Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja on the final afternoon. Ben Stokes defied a problem with his right shoulder to dismiss KL Rahul for 90 and end a 188-run stand with Shubman Gill, who was out for 103 on the stroke of lunch in the fourth Rothesay Test. Jadeja was dropped by Joe Root off his first ball and he and fellow all-rounder Sundar settled India's nerves, taking them to tea on 322 for four – wiping out a 311-run first-innings deficit to lead by 11. The situation at tea ☕️ India lead by 1️⃣1️⃣ still require 6️⃣ wickets. Big final session needed 💪 🇮🇳 3️⃣2️⃣2️⃣-4️⃣ — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 27, 2025 Sundar, promoted to number five with Rishabh Pant injured, ended the session on 57 not out with Jadeja unbeaten on 53, leaving England facing the prospect of just a second draw in the Bazball era – both at Emirates Old Trafford following the 2023 Ashes washout. Aside from the prize scalp of Gill, England could not cash in on the second new ball, taken 40 minutes before lunch, with Liam Dawson offering containment but unable to exploit the foot holes on a fifth-day pitch. Indeed, Stokes offered the most threat, especially at the start of the day. There were doubts about whether he would even bowl after struggling with cramp and soreness in his left leg in Manchester. More fitness concerns became apparent after Liam Dawson started the day, with Stokes rubbing his shoulder following his first over then straightening his arm frequently from then on. Stokes might have had Gill on 81 but a drive burst through a leaping Ollie Pope's hands at cover to give Gill his second reprieve, having been put down on 46 by Dawson on Saturday. But variable bounce was increasingly in play and Rahul was struck on the knee roll by a delivery that jagged back and kept low, with an already-celebrating Stokes not even turning back to see umpire Rod Tucker's finger being raised. Gill wore a painful blow to his bruised right hand and helmet after another delivery from Stokes leapt off a length, but the India captain soldiered on to a ninth ton in 36 Tests. Alongside Sundar, Gill took India into safer waters and the deficit into double digits after England had taken the new ball without much reward. However, Gill then fiddled outside off to Archer a few minutes before lunch and feathered through a simple catch to Jamie Smith. Jadeja also edged his first ball, but Root could not cling on to a head-high chance at first slip. Jofra Archer gets the BIG wicket of Shubman Gill 👊 India four down! 🇮🇳 2️⃣2️⃣3️⃣-4️⃣ — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 27, 2025 Archer, usually excellent to left-handers, was too straight in the afternoon session, perhaps targeting the pads of Sundar and Jadeja, both of whom were all too happy to clip off their legs. Dawson was tidy but ineffective to the left-handers, prompting Root to be brought on after just 20 overs with the new ball, with the Yorkshireman getting one to rip past Sundar's outside edge. Stokes delivered a short burst before tea but leaked 15 runs from his third over and hooked himself as a short-ball ploy backfired, thumped twice to the boundary by Sundar and once by Jadeja as the pair brought up their fifties and took India into the lead.