Who was Fauja Singh? The 114-year-old, nicknamed Turbaned Tornado, dies in road accident in Punjab

Time of India

6 days ago

114-yr-old veteran marathon runner Fauja Singh dies in road accident in Jalandhar
Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner and British Sikh athlete of Indian origin,
passed away at age 114
after being struck by a car in his native village in Punjab on July 14. He was struck by a speeding vehicle as he took a walk outside his home in Beas village.
While walking on the berm of Jalandhar-Pathankot highway, he was hit by the unidentified vehicle at around 3.30pm, his son Harbinder Singh said.
The family took him to a nearby hospital, but he died around 8pm.
Known as the "Turbaned Tornado," Singh began his running career at age 89 to cope with grief and went on to set numerous age-group world records, including becoming the first centenarian to complete a marathon.
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Who was Fauja Singh?
Fauja Singh died in a hit-and-run case in Punjab.
Born on April 1, 1911, in Beas Pind, Jalandhar, Punjab, Singh overcame early physical challenges, being unable to walk until age five due to weak legs. He worked as a farmer in Punjab before moving to East London in 1992 following his wife's death.
Singh's remarkable running journey began in 1994 after the death of his fifth son, Kuldip. He initially took up jogging to manage his grief, but it wasn't until 2000, at age 89, that he seriously pursued running, completing the London Marathon in 6 hours and 54 minutes.
In 2011, at age 100, Singh achieved an extraordinary feat by breaking eight world age-group records in a single day at the Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet in Toronto. His records included completing 100m in 23.14 seconds, 200m in 52.23 seconds, and 400m in 2:13.48.
Three days after setting these records, Singh became the first centenarian to complete a marathon, finishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes, and 6 seconds.
Despite this achievement, Guinness World Records did not recognise the feat due to the absence of a birth certificate, as official records were not maintained in India in 1911.
Throughout his running career, Singh participated in numerous marathons worldwide, including events in London, New York, Toronto, and Mumbai. His personal best came at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which he completed in five hours and 40 minutes in the 'over 90' category.
Legendary marathon runner Fauja Singh dies at 114 in road accident. (ANI)
Singh's achievements extended beyond running records. He became the first non-American to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2003 for promoting racial tolerance. He was awarded the Pride of India title in 2011 and appeared in advertising campaigns alongside David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.
A biography titled "Turbaned Tornado," written by Chandigarh-based columnist Khushwant Singh, was published on July 7, 2011.
In 2021, a biopic titled "Fauja," directed by Omung Kumar B, was announced.
Singh retired from competitive running at age 101 after completing his final race, a 10km run in Hong Kong, in 1 hour 32 minutes and 28 seconds. He served as a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics and received recognition from Queen Elizabeth II, who personally congratulated him on his 100th birthday.
Throughout his running career, Singh was supported by his personal trainer Harminder Singh and used his platform to raise funds for various charities while promoting Sikh culture globally. A vegetarian, he was also the oldest person to feature in a PETA campaign.
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