Legendary marathon runner Fauja Singh dies at 114 in Punjab road accident

Fauja Singh, the iconic Indian-British marathon runner famously known as the ‘Turbaned Tornado’, died in a tragic road accident on Monday in his ancestral village in Punjab’s Jalandhar district. He was 114.

According to local authorities, Singh was fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle while crossing a road in Beas Pind, his native village. A senior official from Jalandhar Rural Police confirmed they were alerted by a family member.

“Preliminary information suggests he was hit by a car. A probe has been launched, and a team has been formed to investigate the matter,” the official said.

A late start to a legendary journey

Born on 1 April 1911 in undivided Punjab, Singh only began running seriously in his 80s after moving to England in the 1990s. He turned to running as a form of solace following the tragic death of his fifth son in a construction accident in 1994. Settling in Ilford, East London, with one of his sons, Singh took up marathon running at the age of 89.

His first major appearance came in 2000 at the London Marathon, where he immediately captured attention. Over the next decade, Singh competed in several prestigious races, including marathons in Toronto, New York, and Hong Kong, often dominating the 90+ age category.

Breaking barriers with every step

A symbol of endurance and determination, Singh completed over 100 marathons in his lifetime, inspiring people around the world. In 2011, at the age of 100, he created eight world age-group records in a single day at the Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet in Toronto, Canada.

Singh was also one of the torchbearers for the 2012 London Olympics and received the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2015 for his contributions to sport and charitable work.

A legacy that runs on

Fauja Singh’s biography, Turbaned Tornado, was launched in 2011 at the House of Lords in London. His life story continues to inspire runners, elders, and people from all walks of life.

With his passing, the world bids farewell to not just a phenomenal athlete, but a beacon of hope and perseverance who proved that age is never a barrier to greatness.