Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while paying tribute, said that Singh “was extraordinary due to his unique personality and the way he inspired the youth of India on a very important subject of fitness.” Modi said, “He was an extraordinary athlete with incredible determination. He suffered from his death. My thoughts are with his family and countless fans around the world.”
Marathon man against obstacles
Singh’s story is one of the patience and there is no possibility of victory. Born in Punjab in 1911, he grew up in an agricultural family. Their age-grabbing career began much later, but disadvantage pushed him to fade his shoes. His wife and son died within a short time. The death of his son Kuldeep in 1994 hit him deeply. Singh and Kuldip were checking the fields during a storm when a metal blew into the air removed Kuldeep in front of their father.
“He did not think his life was worth living without his son,” said his coach Harmander Singh.
Left alone because his other children settled abroad, Singh moved to London to live with his youngest son. There he found solitude among the Sikh community. In the local tournament, he joined the sprint and met the marathon runners who urged him to try long distances. Seeing a marathon on television, the deal was sealed. He was 89 when he ran a London marathon in 2000.
Records, races and recognition
He went to run eight more full marathons. In 2011, he became the oldest person who was running at 100 in Toronto, to complete a full marathon. Guinness World Records He does not believe his feat because he had no birth certificate to prove his age. His British passport showed his date of birth as 1 April 1911, but the record was not kept in his village. Singah also took the Olympic torch in London in 2012. His best time came to the 2003 Toronto Marathon when he ended in 5 hours and 40 minutes. Singh said that he completed his last race on 101, completing a 10 km stretch of 10 km of Hong Kong Marathon. “A tragedy has brought a lot of success and happiness.
When he retired, he made a simple wish: “People will remember me and will not forget me.” He hoped that he would be invited to the events, even though he was no longer running, saying that he wanted to be remembered “instead of forgetting me completely just because I don’t run anymore.”
Fuel by a life simple food
Singh often talked about how he was so strong in life for so long. He credited his diet and routine on everyone. In a blog for Petassia.com, he wrote, “I am the oldest marathon runner in the world. Just three weeks after my 101st birthday, I run the London marathon in seven hours and 49 minutes. I have completed eight other marathons in the last 12 years, including Toronto Waterfront Marathon, when I was 100 years old.
He believed that vegetarian meat live for longer than those eaters. He kept his food local and fresh. Singh wrote, “I walk every day too.
He said, “I have been a vegetarian mainly throughout my life. In Sikhism, we do not eat to live. In Punjab, India’s green belt where I am basically, most people eat what they grow – I give my long life for simple Punjabi vegetarian foods.”
Fauja Singh’s story is a reminder that age is only a number. He turned sorrow into a movement and became a symbol of strength for people of all ages. His last wish should not forget people.
With millions inspired by its ongoing shoes and simple food, this desire looks safe for a long time to come. The police is still searching for the driver who ended Singh’s final walk. But the story of the turban tornado will continue.
