Latest news with #BBCPunjabi
NDTV
15-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Who Was Fauja Singh? 114-Year-Old Marathoner Who Defied Age And Became An Inspiration
The entire sports fraternity of India mourned the loss of the world's oldest marathoner, Fauja Singh. The 114-year-old passed away on Monday after he was involved in a road accident. According to a report in BBC Punjabi, a car hit him on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway on Monday afternoon. He suffered a serious head injury and was immediately rushed to a hospital. However, he succumbed to the injuries. Condolences from all over the country started to pour in as India lost an icon, who was considered an inspiration for the masses. Who was Fauja Singh? Popularly known as the "Turbaned Tornado", Fauja was born on April 1, 1911 in Beyas village, Jalandhar, Punjab. Being born even before the first World War, Fauja saw a lot of historic moments getting unfold during his lifetime. The biggest and the darkest moment came in 1947 during India's partition, which completely turned his life upside down. In the 90s, he shifted to England to live with one of his sons. In 2000, at the age of 89, Fauja made his debut at the London Marathon. He then grabbed everyone's attention as he went on to join international marathons in Toronto, New York, and others within his age group. He was a torchbearer for the 2004 Athens Games and 2012 London Olympics, and appeared in an advertisement for a major sports brand several years ago alongside the likes of David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. In 2012, Malaysia organised the 2nd Annual Chardikala Run with the theme of "101 and running". The event was a tribute to Fauja's marvelous achievements and was honoured on stage with the BrandLaureate Award during the closing ceremony. In 2013, Fauja participated in the Hong Kong marathon, where he completed the race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds. Following this, he announced his retirement from running at the age of 102. However, he continued running for his well-being and charitable causes.
NDTV
14-07-2025
- General
- NDTV
Fauja Singh, Legendary Marathon Runner, Dies At 114 In Road Accident
Fauja Singh, the iconic runner who earned the tag of world's oldest marathoner, died at the age of 114 in a road accident on Monday. He was born on April 1, 1911 in Beyas village, Jalandhar. According to a report in BBC Punjabi, a car hit him on Jalandhar-Pathankot highway on Monday afternoon. He suffered serious head injury. Fauja was immediately rushed to a hospital. However, he succumbed to the injuries at 7:30 pm IST on Monday. At present Fauja Singh's body has been kept in a mortuary till the arrival of his children, who are living abroad. His last rites will be performed only after their arrival. "Deeply saddened by the passing of Sardar Fauja Singh Ji, the legendary marathon runner and an enduring symbol of resilience and hope. Even at the age of 114, he continued to inspire generations with his strength and commitment. I had the honour of walking alongside him during the two-day 'Nasha Mukt – Rangla Punjab' march from his village Beas, district Jalandhar in December 2024. Even then, his presence infused the movement with unparalleled energy and spirit," Gulab Chand Kataria, Punjab governor, wrote in a post on his official Facebook account. "It is heartbreaking to learn that he lost his life today in a tragic road accident in his village. His legacy, however, will forever live on in the hearts of those fighting for a healthier, and drug-free Punjab. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers across the globe. May his soul attain eternal peace." Age was never a barrier for Fauja Singh. The death of his son Kuldip and his wife forced him to search for a worthwhile alternative in life. At 89 years of age, he took to running seriously. Fauja Singh ran his first race, the London Marathon, in 2000. He was well-known in his village for running "from one place to another", old-timers in his village recount. Fauja Singh competed in nine 26-mile (42-kilometre) marathons in London, Toronto and New York. His best time was in Toronto, where he clocked five hours, 40 minutes and four seconds. He was a torchbearer for the 2004 Athens games and 2012 London Olympics, and appeared in advertisement for a major sports brand several years ago alongside the likes of David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran investigates case of 'missing' Indian nationals
The Iranian Embassy in India has said it is investigating the case of three Indian nationals who went missing in Tehran earlier this month. The men, all of whom are from the northern state of Punjab, had a stopover in Iran on 1 May, and were on their way to Australia, where they were promised lucrative jobs by a local travel agent. Their families allege that they were kidnapped upon their arrival by unknown men, who are now demanding a ransom of 5m rupees ($63,000; £47,000). On Thursday, the Iranian Embassy said on X that it was keeping Indian authorities informed of all developments "within the judicial system" and warned about the dangers of taking illegal immigration routes. "Given the nature of this incident, Indian citizens are strongly advised not to be deceived by the promises of unauthorised individuals or illegal Indian agencies offering travel to other countries," it said. The statement came a day after the Indian embassy in Iran said that it had "strongly taken up this matter with Iranian authorities" and requested that the missing Indians be "urgently traced and their safety ensured". Many Indians, particularly from Punjab, travel to developed countries in search of job opportunities and a better life. Some fall victim to scams run by travel agents, who charge exorbitant fees and send them through illegal or unsafe routes, often without proper documentation. Gurdeep Kaur recounted the events that led to her 23-year-old son Amritpal Singh going missing to BBC Punjabi. The family had hired a travel agent in Hoshiarpur - where they live - to secure an Australian work permit for her son. "Last month, the agent informed us that my son's visa had been approved and asked for 1.8m rupees as payment," she said. "They told us they had booked a flight from Delhi to Australia on 26 April. But when my son went there, they told him that his documents were still not ready." The agent then told Amritpal that they had rebooked him on a flight for 29 April, but later claimed that even that ticket got cancelled. On 1 May, the agent put Amritpal, along with the two other men, on a flight to Iran, describing it as a stopover en route to Australia, Ms Kaur said. After landing, Amritpal called his mum to say that he had arrived safely and that a cab was on its way to take them to a hotel, before their next flight. But an hour later, Ms Kaur said her son called again, this time to say that he had been kidnapped. Before she could get any details, the call got cut abruptly and her son became unreachable. Ms Kaur said that the family tried to contact the three agents in Punjab - they first gave them "vague responses" and then went missing. The next day, the family found that their homes and offices were locked. Ms Kaur said they began receiving video calls from unknown men around the same time. On the call, Ms Kaur alleged the kidnappers would show Amritpal and the two other men held hostage inside a room. They had injuries all over their body from being beaten up, she alleged. At first, they demanded 20mn rupees but eventually reduced the amount, settling at 5.4m rupees, Ms Kaur said. "But it has been more than 10 days days since we last heard from them," said Gurdev Singh, Amritpal's uncle. The family has not paid any ransom till now. A police complaint has since been filed against the travel agents and an investigation is under way. "The search for the three men is on. They are on the run, but we are conducting searches," Gursahib Singh, an officer with Hoshiarpur police, told BBC Punjabi. Meanwhile, around 150km (93 miles) away, in Dhuri village, the house of Husanpreet Singh, one of the other missing men, remains locked. He lived there with his maternal grandmother, who is now busy going door-to-door to her relatives, asking them for help. The Indian embassy in Tehran has said it was keeping the families informed of all developments. India has recently intensified its crackdown on travel agents involved in illegal immigration, particularly after hundreds of undocumented Indians were deported from the US after President Donald Trump took office for a second term. Images of these migrants in chains, disembarking from an American aircraft, had made headlines for weeks. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
