CHANDIGARH – Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the veteran athlete Mr. Fauja Singh, who had recently set the record of becoming world’s oldest marathoner, for his rare feat.
Lauding the spectacular achievement of Mr. Fauja Singh, the Chief Minister said that through his success the veteran athlete has brought laurel for the country in general and Punjab in particular. His superb and unparalleled achievement as a veteran runner would ever remain a source of inspiration to kindle the urge to excel in sports especially amongst our budding sportspersons. He said that Indian-born Fauja Singh of England, famously known as the Turbaned Tornado, has proved that age could not restrict a person from excelling in any field. “Punjabis have a knack to lead in every sphere of life and Mr. Fauja Singh has aptly demonstrated the same through his resilience and indomitable spirit” he added.
It may be recalled that 100-year-old Mr. Fauja Singh amazed the world when he completed a 42-kilometre marathon at the Toronto waterfront to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. Setting a new record he finished the Scotia bank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 11 minutes and 5.9 seconds and became the world’s oldest marathoner. In more than 22,000 runners competed in the event, which included the full 42-km marathon, a 21-km half-marathon and a five-kilometer race, Singh was the only person of his age group to have ever run through a full-length marathon.
