Sports
Fauja Singh: 98 years Young, And Still Going and Going ...
by JAMES RANGER
An inspirational runner has completed a race around his training route in the borough as he gears up to compete in his latest marathon - at the age of 98.
Fauja Singh, from Ilford (United Kingdom), will run a leg of the Luxembourg InterFaith Marathon on May 15, 2010 as part of the Sikhs in the City team, who have a combined age of over 400.
They completed the first in a new weekly series of runs around Fauja's training route in Redbridge on Sunday (January 3).
Redbridge Mayor Thomas Chan came along to lend his support, and the race was started by former British Olympic athlete Tessa Sanderson.
Fauja Singh has completed the 26.2-mile distance seven times - including five London marathons - since deciding, at the relatively sprightly age of 89, to take up running again after a five-decade gap to give himself new purpose in life.
The nonagenarian runner's trainer and mentor Harmander Singh - who has also trained Buster Martin, currently thought to be the oldest ever marathon runner - said the athlete was biding his time before attempting to run a full race.
Harmander said: "At the moment he's not able to complete the full distance, and he may only run one more, so we want to make sure that when he does it he will definitely be the oldest.
"One option is to run one at the age of 100. The New York City marathon have offered him $100,000 to do that, and of course he'd give all of that to charity.
"He hasn't kept a penny he's made from running. Even the money he earned from appearing in an Adidas advert with David Beckham a few years ago he gave to Bliss, which was the first charity he ran the London Marathon for in 2000.
"He attitude is 'you can't take it with you', so he gives it all away."
When asked what his next aim is in the sport, Fauja said: "I won't stop running until I die. The next target, God willing, is to become the oldest marathon runner ever."
For more information on the InterFaith Marathon, visit www.interfaith.lu.
[Courtesy: Guardian Series]
January 6, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Harinder (Bangalore, India), January 06, 2010, 10:02 AM.
It is such a pleasure to read of his achievements. He is certainly a role model for all the seniors in the world.
2: Dupinder Kaur Sidhu (New Jersey, U.S.A.), January 06, 2010, 10:43 AM.
Wow! What an inspiration! He is living proof that nothing stops till the end. I turned 39 years old this November and I was having a great fear of being forty on my next birthday. But looking at the achievements of Sardar Fauja Singh ji, age is just a number to play with our minds. Way to go.
3: Inni Kaur (Fairfield, CT, U.S.A.), January 06, 2010, 3:43 PM.
I met Sardar Fauja Singh at a dinner in a Washington D.C. restaurant. He is a man of few words but great warmth. Goodness and love oozes out of his every pore. He ate very little at dinner - like a bird. "Its enough," he said and then, with a twinkle in his eye and the biggest smile, he asked for ice-cream. The man is just great! I loved being with him.
4: Baljit Singh Rihal, JP (London, U.K.), January 06, 2010, 3:56 PM.
It's always a pleasure to read about the continuing adventures of Sardar Fauja Singh. He is a tremendous inspiration for all.
5: Mlle. S (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), January 06, 2010, 8:45 PM.
I am so inspired! Beautiful!
6: Samunder Singh (Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab), February 10, 2010, 9:33 AM.
Bapu ji, you're a great Sikh!
7: Vikramjit Singh (Amritsar, India), June 07, 2010, 7:39 AM.
This man is awesome and legendary.
8: Sumit (New York, U.S.A.), July 15, 2011, 4:18 PM.
Does anyone know how I can get in touch with S. Fauja Singh? I would like to invite him to an event we're hosting. If anyone knows how to contact him, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it.