Kids Corner

Pritam Singh

Pritam
Singh

Columnists

World-Class Cyclist - At a Youthful 73!

by KHUSHWANT SINGH

Two living icons of the Sikh community. Different nationalities, yet proud of their origin, Punjab. One a great-grandfather, the other a mere grandfather.

One runs. The other cycles.

The first is 95-year-old Fauja Singh, Britain's oldest marathon runner and world record holder.

The second is twenty-two years younger. Little has been heard about him. Yet, he is legendary in the world of cycling, as he could put to shame the young and the pretentious.

Meet 73-year-old Pritam Singh Saini, who bicycles 260 km everyday just to keep his blood warm. In 2005, he won his eighth gold medal at the Edmonton World Masters Games, cycling 100 km.

Both men picked up their respective sports late in life, in the early 1990s. The difference  -  the first is a world-renowned figure having run seven full international marathons (26 miles); the other remains relatively unrecognized.

Both are deeply spiritual and connected to their Faith.

The younger one is Amritdhari.

The older athelete isn't. But he's a vegetarian and a teetotaler. Confessing to this correspondent during an interview on the streets of East London, Fauja Singh once explained that he starts sneezing uncontrollably if he takes a bath early in the morning  -   a reason that keeps him from taking Amrit. [The Khalsa code of conduct prescribes an early morning routine.]

Fauja Singh attributes his fame to the high esteem his home-country, Britain, holds him in, contrary to the 'mad-man' tag his mates back in Jalandhar would give him if he ran around the galis in his old village.

It's a challenge that Pritam Singh too faces at home. With no source of motivation from the civil society or the government, his marching to his own drum carries the risk of being associated with senility. He is fuelled only with self-motivation, for he wants to keep the flag fluttering till he is a 100.

Fauja Singh, the 'running baba', is looking forward to 2009, the year he turns 98 and becomes the oldest marathon runner in the world. He runs faster each time he competes.

The younger one, Pritam Singh, betters his cycling record at each event (100 km in 1 hr, 45 mins). While the former thrives on a moderate diet, the latter can  easily handle desi ghee, milk and almonds.  After all, he's still young.

Born on November 5, 1933, Pritam completed his Bachelor's in Science in 1955.

He retired as a head master of a government school in 1991. He now lives in Hoshiarpur with his wife, Bimla, and their four children.

He believes that a man is as old as he feels, and intends to keep on winning medals till he is a 100. The secret of his success, he confides, is his adherence to a list of 15 qualities. They include: self-respect, meditation, perseverance, luck, courage and will-power.

Pritam Singh wakes up at 3:30 am and gets ready by 4:00 am, followed by simran till 4:30. He then goes for a 5 km run, after which he drinks two litres of hot milk, along with two teaspoons of almond oil, honey and ghee. He then picks up any one of the 17 bicycles he owns, and heads out for either Chandigarh or Amritsar  -  to be back in eight hours, covering roughly  260 kilometers or so.

He has won 8 Gold Medals in a row in World Masters games and other International events since 1994. He figures in the Guinness Book of World Records (1993) for cycling the maximum number of km per day, i.e., 357 km.

He points out that he broke the record of 300 km, held until then by a German cyclist. Pritam's name was also added to the Guinness Book for having covered a distance of 5000 km from Hoshiarpur to Mumbai and back, in less than 14 days, on his 'Atlas Goldline Super'. This adventure was part of a goodwill mission on behalf of the Punjab government in 1992.

Another feat was the gold medal win in the cycle race at the Melbourne 2002 World Masters Games, the biggest multi-sport festival on Earth.

Overall, Pritam claims, he has completed well over a million km on his bicycle since 1991.

Pritam Singh cycles to New Delhi ...to pick up his visa, for example. It takes him 12 hours to cover the 386 km. To signal his supremacy in the Masters category, he once challenged his English counterparts to a non-stop cycle race from London to Glasgow.

Two years later, it was an Italian who finally took him up on the challenge. Pritam recalls that it was a grueling marathon, but he completed the distance in 13 hours, 19 minutes and 55.5 seconds, leaving behind the challenger by 20 minutes.

Fauja Singh and Pritam Singh are yet to come face to face. The junior one says he looks forward to meeting the senior one day, if only to bend down and touch his feet!

Between them, they make the world wonder  -  what mettle (or metal) are these two Sikhs made of? Chak De !

Conversation about this article

1: Gagan Deep Singh (Louisville, Kentucky, USA), March 27, 2007, 7:22 PM.

I am greatly inspired to start an exercise program of my own. I thank God for individuals like Sardar Fauja Singh and Sardar Pritam Singh. They are living examples of how one can maintain one's youth in the advanced years, when so many of us are ready to give up so early.

2: Baldev Singh Vij (Ottawa, Canada), March 27, 2007, 11:04 PM.

Very inspiring examples for every Sikh to follow. God bless them both so they can keep up their high spirits and devotion to what they love so much.

3: K.J.Singh ( New Delhi, India), March 28, 2007, 12:01 AM.

It is amazing. The commitment and adherance to a rigid schedule can help one to acheive the impossible. Kudos to both the gentlemen.

4: Jasvinder Singh (Jammu, India), March 28, 2007, 12:30 AM.

A salute to both the living legends for their dedication and hardwork. I'm 28 yrs old and I can't even dream of running like S. Fauja Singh ji or cycle like S. Pritam Singh ji. I pray for their good health and long, long lives.

5: Amrit Pal Singh (Gurgaon, India), March 28, 2007, 3:56 AM.

I wonder how many amongst our (newer) generation can or would think of emulating the spirit, if not the actual feats, that Sardar Pritam Singh ji or Sardar Fauja Singh ji have exhibited in their lives. Perhaps, they echo the spirit or even the rehni-behni (way of life) of the Khalsa of yore. I can only pray that this new generation, of which I'm a part, is able to maintain that same spirit and that rehni-behni. GurFateh.

6: Gurpreet singh (Dauphin, Canada), March 28, 2007, 11:52 AM.

I believe people like Sardar Pritam Singh are legendary heroes and a source of inspiration to everyone. I expect there are thousands of unsung heroes like him, but being media-shy, or not being media-savvy, prevents them from getting the recognition they truly deserve. We owe them our wholehearted respect and support.

7: Abhishek Verma (Sirhind, Punjab, India), March 28, 2007, 1:05 PM.

Hats-off to our legends. These are our real heroes. They bring us real inspiration, not with mere words, but with their actions.

8: Gaganpreet Singh (Bathinda, India), March 28, 2007, 2:10 PM.

Great heroes. These two "young" Sardars are performing wonders. Both the Punjabi and Sikh communities should feel proud of them. A salute from my family and I to both of them.

9: Parminder Singh (Alice Springs, Australia), March 28, 2007, 9:16 PM.

My salute to these living heroes. Sikhs like Sardar Fauja Singh and Sardar Pritam Singh inspire young Sikhs like me to be fearless, and in Chardi Kala with Guru's blessings, at all times.

10: Opkar Singh (Australia), March 28, 2007, 10:14 PM.

Respect to both of them. Now I realize what they mean by "Chak De Fathay". God Bless them both.

11: Satwinder Singh (British Columbia, Canada), March 29, 2007, 1:46 AM.

All I can say is Wow!! These two elders have done the impossible. They have tremendous will power, courage, and determination. Our community is well in need of such great role models. A big salute goes out to these Heroes. Sat Sri Akal and Rab Raakha.

12: Deepak Gupta (Chandigarh, India), March 29, 2007, 2:07 AM.

"Punjabiyaan Di Shaan Vakhri"! - [Punjabis have a glory of their own!]

13: Harkirath S. Rehal (Orlando, USA), March 29, 2007, 11:48 AM.

What can one say? Here we are complaining we don't get time to exercise and, while doing so, we ignore the most important physical thing that God has given us : our bodies. And here you have these two heroes. This is something all Sikhs should be proud of.

14: Ari Singh (Iceland), March 29, 2007, 12:46 PM.

These two sikhs have inspired me to exercise regularly and to revert to the Punjabi diet of milk, ghee, honey and almonds! I wish them good health and long, long lives.

15: Shamsher Singh (Amsterdam, Holland), March 29, 2007, 5:06 PM.

Feel proud to see a Amritdhari Singh doing this at the age of 73 when many in our new generation are turning their backs to the path of discipline within the Faith.

16: Shivraj Singh Sandhu (Canada), March 30, 2007, 12:23 AM.

I bow my head before these two great souls. They have shown tremendous courage and nerve of steel, acheiving the unimaginable. I wish and hope that today's teens - and all others as well - will learn from their example.

17: Ravpreet (New Delhi, India), March 30, 2007, 3:08 AM.

Our young generation should take inspiration from their lives. The proverbial milk and honey takes us up one path, the consumption of addictive substances takes us down another: there are choices to be made!

18: Ujjal Goraya (Los Angeles, USA), March 31, 2007, 8:36 AM.

I am saddened to see young Sikhs cutting their hair and the males doing away with their turbans because they are influenced by Western culture and Bollywood celebrities. The young geneation should be made aware that these two Sikh seniors are the real heroes and not just Bollywood celebs.

19: Harkinder Singh (London, Ontario, Canada), March 31, 2007, 10:22 PM.

Very inspiring article on very inspiring and legendry individuals. I believe someone close to these individuals must make detailed documentaries (background, work habits, food intake, family history, value sustem, relationships, etc.) These documentaries should be made available to libraries, hospitals, schools, Gurdwaras, and other institutions around the world.

20: Maria Mancini (UK), April 02, 2007, 5:32 AM.

The whole Sikh Community worldwide should be very proud of you both. You are truly remarkable men. Good health to you both. With sincere respect ...

21: Balwant Singh (Walsall, UK), April 02, 2007, 8:04 AM.

I have total respect for these two inspiring souls. My friends and I attempted to cycle from London to Exeter back in 1988: it was very hard. We will also try to jog 10K in Edbinburgh this summer - and we know it'll be even harder. S. Pritam Singh & S. Fauja Singh are my heroes. I shall be inspired to try and attain some of the standards they have set. Live long and prosper.

22: Bikram Singh (Australia), April 05, 2007, 4:13 AM.

This is amazing ... just incredible. It's the "Fauj" known as the "Khalsa" created by Guru Gobind Singh. Both "young" men are inspiration for the world. Chardi Kalaa!

23: Baljeet Singh (Bradford, U.K.), July 24, 2007, 5:53 PM.

I've seen Pritam Singh several times. He lives just two km from my village in Hoshiarpur. You'll always see his on his bicycle and in his trade-mark "Santri" pagh. He has his ID card on him all the time. I've never spoken to him, but will make it a point to talk to him the next time I see him. There are billbords on the Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh Road, listing his cycling achievements. Proud of this great Gursikh!

24: Harminder Bajaj (U.S.A.), November 04, 2007, 9:31 AM.

"Dhan jeyo teh ko jag mein, Mukh te har chit mein judh bicharey", applies well to these brave souls who keep their eyes on their goals and keep forging ahead, undistracted. Someone above correctly said that they are Akal Purakh's Fauj - "Har simran bauh mahey ikela". All of us should get motivation from them ... and clone them!

25: Morris Bradshaw (Trinidad and Tobago), October 18, 2008, 1:41 PM.

I am 55. I think that I might just take up cycling again....

26: Robin Maharaj (Eden Prairie, Minnnesota, U.S.A.), November 17, 2008, 8:48 PM.

To comment # 25: I have been a meteorologist for 27 years on TTTV (Trinindad & Tobago) and the Gov't Met. Service. I left Trinidad and worked in Geneva, Switzerland at the World Meteorological Orgn., before retiring in the U.S.A. I had put on weight and got lazy. These two, Fauja and Pritam, have been my inspiration over the past few years as I became physical. I lost 30 lbs. by speed walking between 6 and 10 miles daily, throughout the year. Today it was -10C outside with windchill of -16 C, but I went and did 8 miles. Recently, I added jogging to my daily walks. I am asthmatic, but I remain inspired. I am 66 years old, and I intend to go on as long as God allows. Age is mainly in the mind; we can do; it is doubt and society's false attitudes to aging that cause problems. These men are beacons to show us the way.

27: Daljeet Singh (Ludhiana, Punjab), February 11, 2012, 4:22 AM.

Incredible!

28: Simranjeet Singh Saini (Ludhiana, Punjab), December 04, 2012, 6:19 PM.

Balle balle, Naana ji (S. Pritam Singh). Tuhaadi tareef sun ke dil khush ho gya ... Rabb tuhaanu te S. Fauja Singh ji nu chardi kalaa ch rakhe!

29: Simranjeet Singh (Ludhiana, Punjab), February 24, 2013, 8:20 AM.

Satkaaryog Sardar Pritam Singh ji Hhalsa saade vich nahi rahey! Rabb ehnaa di aatmaa(n) nu shaanti devey ji.

30: Rajesh Airy (Delhi, India ), September 25, 2013, 12:38 AM.

We would like to meet you at your place. We are a well known group of cyclists named "Delhi Cyclists". We are about 20 cyclists who desire to come by riding from Delhi to Hoshiarpur and touch your feet to get your blessings and get some knowledge from you.

Comment on "World-Class Cyclist - At a Youthful 73!"









To help us distinguish between comments submitted by individuals and those automatically entered by software robots, please complete the following.

Please note: your email address will not be shown on the site, this is for contact and follow-up purposes only. All information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Sikhchic reserves the right to edit or remove content at any time.