Latest news with #GuinnessBookofRecords
DW
5 days ago
- Sport
- DW
Oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh, dies in hit-and-run – DW – 07/16/2025
Fauja Singh, believed to be he first centenarian to complete a full marathon, has died aged 114 after being hit by a car, media say. He began competitive running at 89 as a way to beat grief-induced depression. Fauja Singh, a British Indian-born athlete believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, has died at the age of 114 after being hit by a car in his native village in Punjab, media reports say. Singh, who claimed to be born in 1911, came to fame when he completed the 42.2 km (26.2 mile) Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2011, becoming the first 100-year-old to finish such an event. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "My 'Turbaned Tornado' is no more," Singh's biographer Khushwant Singh wrote in a post on the platform X on Monday. "He was struck by an unidentified vehicle around 3:30 PM today in his village, [Beas Pind], while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja," Singh wrote. Beas Pind lies near the city of Jalandhar in western Punjab state. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also posted condolences on X, saying: "He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world." Police told local media that they were trying to identify the vehicle. Fauja Singh reportedly sustained severe head injuries in the accident, of which he later died in hospital. Singh took up running marathons at the age of 89 in a bid to ward off the grief caused by the deaths of his wife and a son in quick succession in India. Following the deaths, he went to live in London with his youngest son, where he participated in athletic events organized by the Sikh community before deciding that marathons were his thing. In 2000 he ran the London Marathon, his first, and went on to do eight more. His best time was in Toronto in 2003, where he clocked 5 hours and 40 minutes. He ran his last competitive race in 2013 at the age of 101, finishing the Hong Kong Marathon's 10-kilometer (6.25-mile) race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, 28 seconds. A year prior to that, he was a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics. Singh's feat of completing the 2011 Toronto marathon at 100 was not recognized by the Guinness Book of Records because he had no birth certificate to prove his age, though his British passport showed his date of birth as April 1, 1911. Indian government officials have stated in a letter that India did not keep birth records back in 1911. Following his retirement from racing, Singh said he hoped "people will remember me and not forget me." He said he also wanted people to continue to invite him to events "rather than forget me altogether just because I don't run anymore."
NDTV
10-07-2025
- General
- NDTV
"We Were Founded Because...": How Guinness Book Of World Records Started
The Guinness World Records (GWR), originally known as the Guinness Book of Records, is believed to be the last word on record-breaking accomplishments, and it all began as a collection of facts to settle disputes in pubs. The GWR has a unique and fascinating origin story rooted in a missed shot during a bird hunt. When a post on X asked to share a "piece of lore about yourself, GWR responded, reflecting on what laid the foundation for it. "We were founded because two people couldn't agree on what the fastest bird was whilst they were out hunting," it posted. we were founded because two people couldn't agree on what the fastest bird was whilst they were out hunting — Guinness World Records (@GWR) July 9, 2025 The Beginning (1950s) It was the 1950s. Guinness Breweries managing director, Sir Hugh Beaver (1890–1967), attended a shooting event in County Wexford where he got into a heated argument with his friends after failing to find the answer in any reference book about the fastest game bird in Europe. This incident gave Sir Hugh the idea that there ought to be a book that could end these discussions—a reference manual with facts from an array of topics—that people might use to settle conflicts. First Edition Creation (1954–1955) In 1954, Sir Hugh recalled his shooting event debate and came up with the concept for a Guinness campaign based on the idea of resolving pub arguments. He contacted the fact-finding researchers from Fleet Street, twins Ross McWhirter and Norris, to create a book of facts and statistics. They started assembling a comprehensive and painstakingly studied list of record-breaking accomplishments, including everything from sports to natural events to human achievements to oddities from all across the globe, in 1954. The original ' Guinness Book of Records' was created in August 1955. It is among the best-selling copyrighted works in publishing history, with an average of over 3.5 million copies sold each year and more than 150 million copies since its initial publication. It is published all around the world and has been translated into over 40 languages. What Guinness World Records does The book is most famous for its lists and descriptions of records about various extremes of size, speed, and distance. Some of the examples are the tallest person, the heaviest onion, the fastest animal, and the most distant human-made object in the world. It also lists unusual and challenging competitive challenges, such as arranging the most coins in 30 seconds, shooting the longest arrow with only one's feet, and cramming the most people into a large car, among others. Today In 1999, the Guinness Book of World Records changed its name to Guinness World Records to reflect its expanding business, per USA Today. The company also branched out from publishing books to other endeavours, such as a museum of its records in Hollywood and a television program called "Guinness World Records Primetime" in the United States. With offices in London, New York, Beijing, Tokyo, and Dubai, as well as brand ambassadors and panellists on the ground all over the world, Guinness World Records is a global brand today.
Hans India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
YSRCP launches ‘yuvatha poru'
Visakhapatnam: Flagging failures of the coalition government, YSRCP launches 'yuvatha poru' protests and submits representations at all Collectorates on June 23, informed former IT Minister Gudivada Amarnath. Speaking to the media here on Sunday, Gudivada Amarnath said the coalition government is resorting to diversion politics as it failed to implement poll promises, especially creation of jobs and provision of Rs 3,000 allowance to the unemployed youth after it came to power. The youth wing of the party will hold protests at all District Collector offices, Amarnath mentioned. 'People are not prepared to trust Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as he is resorting to diversion politics to avoid fulfilling promises made like his earlier tenures,' Amarnath criticised, adding the Thalliki Vandanam scheme has been diluted. Talking about International Yoga Day celebrations, Amarnath pointed out that the government spent Rs.300 crore on IYD for publicity, causing great inconvenience to students, women and public. 'Tribal students were mobilised to the venue the previous day without proper care and they faced serious hardship,' Amarnath lamented. The event was conducted with an aim of entering the Guinness Book of Records, while Naidu already holds a record for cheating people across four terms as Chief Minister, Amarnath alleged. While Naidu mobilises funds for Amaravati, Amarnath said, North Andhra remains completely neglected but used for the CM's publicity stunts. 'It was only during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure North Andhra witnessed real development,' he reiterated, appealing to people to make the 'yuvatha poru' a success.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh government spent ₹300 crore on International Yoga Day event for publicity, alleges YSRCP
YSR Congress Party leader Gudivada Amarnath alleged that the government has spent ₹300 crore on the International Yoga Day event purely for propaganda and publicity, putting students, public and women through severe inconvenience. He also alleged that tribal students were brought the previous day without proper care and they faced serious hardships. Addressing the media during a press conference at the party office on Sunday, he said, 'The event was conducted with the aim of entering the Guinness Book of Records, while Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Babu already holds a record for cheating people.' The YSRCP leader alleged that Mr. Naidu has been securing funds for Amaravati, while the North Andhra region is completely neglected and used merely for his publicity stunts. It was only during the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure that North Andhra saw real development, he stated. 'Yuvatha Poru' Mr. Amarnath also said that the YSRCP would organise protests in the name of 'Yuvatha Poru' on June 23 against the NDA government for failing to implement the promise of providing 20 lakh jobs and payment of unemployment stipend. The YSRCP will also submit representations at all the Collector offices as part of the protests, he said. He also alleged that the NDA government is resorting to diversion politics as it has failed to implement the poll promises, especially the creation of jobs and provision of ₹3,000 stipend to the unemployed, after it assumed office. He appealed to the people to make the 'Yuvatha Poru' protest a grand success.
New Indian Express
22-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
International Yoga Day event in Vizag sets Guinness record; over 3 lakh people participate
VISAKHAPATNAM: The International Yoga Day, organised at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam, set multiple records. The grand event marked the culmination of the month-long 'Yogandhra' campaign, conducted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. As part of the campaign, the state provided training to over 1.44 lakh yoga instructors, registered more than 2.17 crore participants across 1.4 lakh locations, and saw over 3 lakh people participate at a single location in Vizag. Additionally, certificates were issued to 1.7 crore participants. The event also set another record, with at least 22,122 tribal students performing a mass Surya Namaskar. Guinness Book representatives present certificate to Lokesh Guinness Book of Records representatives presented the official certificate to IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. The 11th International Day of Yoga (IYD) event in Visakhapatnam set a new Guinness World Record for the largest gathering for a yoga session at a single venue, with 3 lakh people participating in a mass yoga demonstration that stretched 28 kilometres from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram. Earlier, the Gujarat government had organised a mass yoga session with nearly 1.53 lakh participants in 2023. Now, the Andhra Pradesh government has successfully conducted a month-long series of mass yoga sessions across the state.
