Fauja Singh: Difference between revisions

Fauja Singh

Fauja Singh (born April 1, 1911) is a Sikh marathon runner in his nineties from India who now lives in the UK and is a world-record holder in his age bracket in varies sporting categories. He is Britain's most popular Sikh in his 90's. He has set various marathon records in the over 90's category. In 2004, he was featured in an advertising campaign for sportswear manufacturer Adidas.

Fauja Singh came to London in 1992 to live with his son after his wife's death in his village in Jalandhar. "Sitting at home was really killing", he says in Punjabi. "Most elderly people in Britain eat a rich diet, don't move about and only travel in cars, and that makes them sick", he says. He wasn't prepared to go the same way. So he took up jogging initially to beat the boredom of sitting at home.

"I never thought of running a Marathon then. But slowly it grew". What surprises many is that he supports his eight stone and six feet tall body frame with a very simple vegetarian diet. "I am very careful about different foods. My diet is simple phulka (chappati), dal (lentils), green vegetables, yoghurt and milk. I do not touch parathas, pakoras, rice or any other fried food. I take lots of water and tea with ginger."

And that smile is eternally fixed beneath his silver haired beard. Perhaps that's the reason behind his strikingly inspiring and positive attitude. "I go to bed early taking the name of my Rabba [God] as I don't want all those negative thoughts crossing my mind." Doesn't he find it difficult to cover 26 miles at this age? "The first 20 miles are not difficult. As for last six miles, I run while talking to God".

While running Marathon races in London, New York, Toronto, India, etc he has raised thousands of pounds for various charities promoting Sikh culture around the world. He has also raised money for B.L.I.S.S., a charity dedicated to the care for premature babies. He describes it as the 'oldest running for the youngest'.

Fauja Singh

Fauja Singh shot to fame in 2000, when aged 89, he completed the gruelling 26.2 mile (about 42 km) distance in 6 hours and 54 minutes. This knocked 58 minutes off the previous world best for anyone in the 90 plus age bracket. The career of this extraordinary marathon runner is closely supervised by his personal trainer Harminder Singh. He says "He can still run for a few more years. And perhaps in five years he might be the oldest man to run a Marathon.'"

In 2004, Adidas signed him up for its 'Nothing Is Impossible' advertising campaign. He won't reveal how much money the deal involves, but says that a large part of his earnings went to charity.

But the question is how long can he continue to run marathons. Steven Carroll, an expert in sports medicine says that Fauja Singh should go on running for as long as he likes, provided his cardiovascular system is able to support his gruelling schedule. But, he cautioned: "No one should run a marathon, be they 16 or 93, without getting properly fit first. A marathon is a punishing event and anyone thinking of entering must build up endurance".

On the Friday, April 16, 2004 just before the 2004 London Marathon, Fauja Singh had to go through his final medical test. "They had all types of machines and took many tests. Everything is fine with me. Though my one leg is weaker than the other, I can complete the run", he says with a disarming smile. That's why the Adidas billboard warns the Marathon runners from Kenya: "The Kenyans had better watch out for him when he hits 100".

• above based on article in THE SIKH TIMES

FAUJA SINGH'S STATS

Navjot Singh Sidhu

• Born: 1 April 1911 in India
• Former occupation: Farmer
• Running career: Rediscovered at age of 81
• Diet: Ginger curry
• Marathons: London (5), Toronto (1), New York (1)
• Marathon debut: London, 2000 aged 89
• London marathon pb: 6h 2m

At 94, he's run seven marathons (five in London), countless half-marathons and was recently part of the world's oldest marathon team in Edinburgh.

Fauja's jogging skills were developed on an Indian farm in Punjab, and then at the magical age of 81, when he moved to the UK, his love for the sport became more "serious".

Next up? He's set his sights on being a record breaker.

And Asafa Powell might have to watch his back. The Jamaican may have the new 100m record, but Fauja's after eight of them - in one day.

On Saturday, London's Mile End Park Stadium will witness the great man attempting to set world bests for men over 90 in the 100m, 200m, 300m, 800m, 1500m, 1 mile, 3,000m and 5,000m.

The action starts at 10:30BST with proceeds going to charity and the event is in support of the London 2012 Olympic bid.

So any secrets to fitness? Fauja's training regime includes a daily eight-mile walk and run, no smoking or drinking, plenty of smiling and lashings of ginger curry.

The pounding pensioner is already a superstar. Last year Adidas signed up Fauja alongside David Beckham and Jonny Wilkinson as part of its 'Impossible is nothing' campaign.

And next on the list?

More marathons - and coach Harminder Singh is trying to set up a showdown between Fauja and Japan's Kozo Haraguchi - the new 100m world record holder for the 95-99 age group.

External links

• "Life begins at 90" (BBC Sport)
• "Runner, 94, finishes capital race" (BBC News)
• Biography in THE SIKH TIMES
• REDIFF article regarding ADIDAS deal
• Fauja Singh sets World Records
• Sikhs in the City Running Team
• News clippings
• Tribuneindia.com
• ukinindia.com