Sports
Fauja Singh, World’s Oldest Marathon Runner, Dies at 114 After Hit-and-Run Accident in India
Fauja Singh, the legendary Indian-born marathoner famously known as the Turbaned Torpedo, has died at the age of 114 after being struck by a car in a tragic hit-and-run incident near Jalandhar, Punjab. The accident occurred on Monday as Singh was crossing the street in his hometown. He sustained severe brain injuries and later passed away at the hospital. His death was confirmed by Sikhs In The City, the London-based running club and charity he was closely associated with.
Singh was globally celebrated for becoming the oldest person to complete a full marathon. At age 100, he ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2011, earning him worldwide admiration—even though Guinness World Records could not officially recognize the feat due to the absence of a birth certificate. His British passport listed his birthdate as April 1, 1911, but official birth records from that year were not maintained in India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, describing Singh as “extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness.”
Singh’s journey into long-distance running began at the age of 89, following the heartbreaking loss of his wife and son. His son’s death in 1994 was particularly traumatic—Kuldip was fatally struck by a piece of corrugated metal during a storm while they were inspecting their farm.
Turning to running as a way to cope with grief, Singh completed his first marathon in London in 2000. Over the years, he ran a total of nine marathons, with his best time of 5 hours and 40 minutes set at the 2003 Toronto Marathon. In 2013, at the age of 101, he ran his final competitive race—a 10-kilometer event in Hong Kong—which he finished in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds.
Despite retiring from competitive racing, Singh remained active in the public eye and expressed a deep desire to continue being remembered and invited to events, saying, “I hope people will remember me and not forget me.”
Prime Minister Modi added, “He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”
Fauja Singh’s legacy as a symbol of resilience, longevity, and the power of perseverance will continue to inspire generations to come.
Head coach of Ghana’s national U-15 team Fatawu Salifu has praised Kurt Okraku for initiatives aimed at strengthening coaching development in the country.
Salifu believes the leadership of the Ghana Football Association has placed strong focus on improving the education and training of coaches at different levels of the game.
He explained that several programmes have been introduced to give coaches more opportunities to upgrade their knowledge and skills.
According to him, these initiatives are helping trainers better guide young footballers across the country.
Salifu noted that in the past many coaches struggled due to a lack of mentorship and limited access to proper training.
However, he believes recent efforts by the football governing body are gradually changing that situation.
The coach pointed to workshops and continuous learning programmes as key steps toward building a more professional coaching environment.
Following the events in the Middle East, President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has met with the Black Queens to appeal for calm. He assured the team that the GFA has, over the last 24 to 48 hours, engaged with all stakeholders, including Ghana’s mission in the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and our Security Advisors, in its quest to find the right solution to the problem.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (Hon.), and Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams (Hon.), have both called to offer the nation’s support to the team during this period.
The GFA respectfully asks everyone to be calm as we monitor the situation. We will keep our stakeholders updated should there be further developments.
The Black Queens have been in the United Arab Emirates for the past week to prepare for the forthcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
According to reports kpdonline.com is gathering, the team is likely to redraw from the ongoing Pink Ladies Cup following, Tension in the Middle East.
Credit: Ghana FA Communication
Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has confirmed that Ghana is considering of adding another high profile Friendly game as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“We are not going there to just go and participate, our intention is to stay there till the last day, reason why we have augmented the technical team, we are in talks to have another high profile Friendly in the coming weeks, talks are ongoing and it will be confirmed soon” Adams told Citi Sports,
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has added five new faces to the technical team, including French coach Alain Ravera as assistant coach, and performance coach Dwayne Peasah Paa Kwesi.
These appointments aim to enhance Ghana’s competitiveness in the tournament, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Ghana has been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia, and will look to break their best World Cup record, reaching the quarter-finals in South Africa 2010.
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