ADAMPUR, India (Kashmir English): The world’s oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh, has died at the age of 114 in a hit-and-run incident in Punjab, local media reported on Tuesday.
The iconic marathoner whose career defied age and inspired generations, was hit by an unidentified vehicle as he was crossing the Adampur–Bhogpur road near his native village of Beas in the Jalandhar district.
The accident reportedly took place around 3:30 p.m. on Monday. Singh was taken to a private hospital in Jalandhar but succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
Authorities said the police have booked an unidentified driver with no arrests reported made until Tuesday.
Singh, the youngest of four siblings, was born on 1 April 1911 in Beas. He emigrated to East London in 1992 following the death of his wife, Gian Kaur.
After the loss of his son Kuldeep Singh in 1994, he took up running to cope with his grief, a decision that led him to an extraordinary late-life athletic journey.
Singh formally trained in the UK with coach Harmander Singh and entered professional races from the age of 89.
Fauja Singh in London Marathon
In 2000, Fauja Singh completed the London Marathon in 6 hours and 54 minutes, setting a world record in the 90+ age category.
He went on to complete eight full marathons, becoming a global ambassador for fitness and endurance.
At the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2003, Singh set his personal best, finishing in 5 hours and 40 minutes. At 100, he completed his final full marathon in London in 2011, clocking in at 7 hours and 49 minutes.
Singh announced to formally retire from competitive running in 2013 after finishing the 10-kilometre event at the Hong Kong Marathon in 1 hour, 32 minutes, a full 30 seconds faster than his time the year before.
Singh also carried the Olympic torch during the 2012 London Games and remained a symbol of resilience, mental fortitude, and cultural pride.
