Fauja Singh, the legendary “Turbaned Tornado” and the world’s oldest marathon runner, died at the age of 114 following a tragic road accident in Punjab on July 14.
Born on April 1, 1911, in Beyas village, Jalandhar, Fuja had become a global inspiration for defying age through endurance sports. He was struck by a car while crossing the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway and later succumbed to a fatal head injury at a hospital.
His body was placed in a mortuary until the arrival of his children from abroad, reported NDTV.
Tributes have poured in from across the globe. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who had walked alongside Singh at “Nasha Mukt – Rangla Punjab” march in 2024, remembered him as “an enduring symbol of resilience and hope”.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned his death, saying: “He was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on fitness.”
Fauja took up running at the age of 89 following the deaths of his wife and son, seeking purpose through physical fitness.
In 2000, he ran his first marathon in London, later competing in full marathons in Toronto, New York and other cities. At 100, he became the oldest person to complete a full marathon, finishing the 2011 Toronto Waterfront Marathon in five hours, 40 minutes.
He also participated in the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics as a torchbearer, and famously featured alongside global icons David Beckham and Muhammad Ali in a sportswear campaign.
Despite retiring from competitive races in 2013 after completing a 10km run in Hong Kong, he continued to run for health and charity.
Fauja’s life was a powerful story of reinvention, endurance, and spirit. He witnessed India’s independence, lived through the Partition and inspired generations around the world by proving that age is no barrier to greatness.
The driver responsible for the accident, a 30-year-old non-resident Indian named Amritpal Singh Dhillon, was arrested on July 15.
Amritpal, who admitted to the hit-and-run, claimed he was unaware that the victim was Fauja. CCTV footage helped police track him down, and the vehicle – a Toyota Fortuner – has been seized.
