Latest news with #TurbanedTornado
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Fortuner That Hit And Killed Marathoner Fauja Singh Identified: Cops
The car which hit 114-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway and sped away has been identified almost 24 hours after the incident, cops said. The world's oldest marathoner died in the accident. The cops, using CCTV footage, have identified a Punjab-registered white Toyota Fortuner, which was allegedly involved in the hit-and-run, but a search is still on for the driver. Multiple teams have been formed to identify the accused who rammed Fauja Singh. The legendary runner suffered head injuries in the incident and died in the hospital. Mr Singh, popularly known as 'Turbaned Tornado', was a global icon. He was born on April 1, 1911 and lived through history, witnessing two world wars, two global pandemics, and India's partition in 1947. In the 90s, he moved to England to live with one of his sons. The death of his son Kuldip and his wife forced him to search for a worthwhile alternative in life. Age was never a barrier for him. In 2000, at the age of 89, he made his debut at the iconic London marathon, which grabbed the world's attention. He went on to participate in Toronto, New York, and other cities 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 alongside legends like 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 Singh's achievements, and he was honoured with the BrandLaureate Award. 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. People from the sporting community and political leaders mourned Fauja Singh's death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Fauja Singh Ji was extraordinary due to his unique personality and his approach to inspiring India's youth on the crucial topic of fitness. He was a remarkable athlete with unwavering determination. His passing has caused great sorrow. My condolences are with his family and his countless admirers around the world." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of centenarian marathon legend, the globally celebrated 'Turbaned Tornado,' Fauja Singh ji. His life, a testament to unwavering determination and unbridled resilience, serves as a profound inspiration for fitness enthusiasts, aspiring athletes and the young and old alike." "My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and admirers," he added.
Al Jazeera
4 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
‘Turbaned Tornado': World's oldest marathon runner dies in hit-and-run
'Turbaned Tornado': World's oldest marathon runner dies in hit-and-run NewsFeed Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, has died at the age of 114 from a hit-and-run accident in northern India. Video Duration 02 minutes 56 seconds 02:56 Video Duration 01 minutes 27 seconds 01:27 Video Duration 01 minutes 58 seconds 01:58 Video Duration 00 minutes 54 seconds 00:54 Video Duration 02 minutes 20 seconds 02:20 Video Duration 01 minutes 10 seconds 01:10 Video Duration 01 minutes 34 seconds 01:34
eNCA
9 hours ago
- Sport
- eNCA
'World's oldest marathon runner' dies aged 114 in road accident
MUMBAI - India's Fauja Singh, believed to be the world's oldest distance runner, has died in a road accident aged 114, his biographer said. Singh, an Indian-born British national, nicknamed the "Turbaned Tornado", died after being hit by a vehicle in Punjab state's Jalandhar district on Monday. "My Turbaned Tornado is no more," Fauja's biographer Khushwant Singh wrote on X. "He was struck by an unidentified vehicle... in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja." Singh did not have a birth certificate but his family said he was born on April 1, 1911. He ran full marathons (42 kilometres) till the age of 100. His last race was a 10-kilometre event at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon when 101, where he finished in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds. He became an international sensation after taking up distance running at the ripe old age of 89, after the death of his wife and one of his sons, inspired by seeing marathons on television. Although widely regarded as the world's oldest marathon runner, he was not certified by Guinness World Records as he could not prove his age, saying that birth certificates did not exist when he was born under British colonial rule in 2011. Singh was a torchbearer for the Olympics at Athens 2004 and London 2012, and appeared in advertisements with sports stars such as David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. His strength and vitality were credited to a routine of farm walks and a diet including Indian sweet "laddu" packed with dry fruits and home-churned curd. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on social media. "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."
Al Etihad
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Etihad
'World's oldest marathon runner' dies aged 114 in road accident in India
15 July 2025 14:06 NEW DELHI (AFP)India's Fauja Singh, believed to be the world's oldest distance runner, has died in a road accident aged 114, his biographer said an Indian-born British national, nicknamed the "Turbaned Tornado", died after being hit by a vehicle in Punjab state's Jalandhar district on Monday."My Turbaned Tornado is no more," Fauja's biographer Khushwant Singh wrote on X."He was struck by an unidentified vehicle... in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja."Singh did not have a birth certificate but his family said he was born on April 1, ran full marathons of 42 kilometres till the age of last race was a 10-kilometre (six-mile) event at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon when 101, where he finished in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 became an international sensation after taking up distance running at the ripe old age of 89, after the death of his wife and one of his sons, inspired by seeing marathons on was a torchbearer for the Olympics at Athens 2004 and London 2012, and appeared in advertisements with sports stars such as David Beckham and Muhammad Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on social media."Fauja Singh 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," said Modi on X "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."
CNN
10 hours ago
- Sport
- CNN
World's oldest marathon runner dies in a hit-and-run at 114
The world's oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh, who was still competing after turning 100 more than a decade ago, died in a hit-and-run on Monday, according to India police. He was 114. Born in rural India in 1911 before later moving to London, Singh earned the nickname 'Turbaned Tornado' after he took up marathon running in his late 80s. He went on to complete nine of the 26.2-mile races. He was considered the world's oldest marathon runner, though never secured a Guinness World Record because he didn't have a birth certificate. According to Indian police, an unknown vehicle hit Singh when he was walking on a road near his native village of Beas, in the north-western Indian state of Punjab. He was sent to the Srimann Hospital in Jalandhar district where he succumbed to injuries sustained to his head and ribs, Jalandhar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police Harvinder Singh Virk said. 'We are working on identifying the vehicle. We are using CCTV footage in the area to trace the vehicle and have dispatched teams that are working on it,' the superintendent told CNN, adding that a passerby witnessed the accident. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi led nationwide tributes, calling Singh 'an exceptional athlete with incredible determination.' Singh only started running marathons when he was 89, after he moved to England following the death of his wife and son. 'Running showed me kindness and brought me back to life by making me forget all my traumas and sorrows,' he told CNN in an interview when he was 102. He ran his first marathon after just a couple of months of training, and achieved his personal best of five hours and 40 minutes at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon three years later. In 2011, Singh returned to Toronto, where he became the first centenarian on record to complete a marathon, finishing in eight hours and 11 minutes and six seconds. It was a far cry from his humble childhood in India, when he was unable to walk until he was five due to weakness in his legs. His last race was in Hong Kong, a 10-kilometer route, in 2013, a year after he carried the torch for the 2012 London Olympics. Despite his success, his achievements were never accepted by Guinness World Records' rule-keepers due to his lack of a birth certificate. He did however, receive a letter from Britain's Queen Elizabeth congratulating him on his 100th birthday. 'I am very fond of my running shoes, I absolutely love them. I wear them for pleasure. I can't imagine my life without them,' he told CNN, when he was 102.
