110-year-old Fauja Singh sets fitness goals for younger generation

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 14

Fauja Singh (110), a long distance runner, who was felicitated by a team of World Book of Records, London, on Sunday, enjoys a laidback day at his village Beas in Jalandhar. He was honoured for being a veteran marathon runner and his unmatched contribution in promoting long distance running at this age.

Known worldwide for being a runner, he also nurtures some unknown interests that he often indulges in. He loves gardening and listening to Gurdas Maan songs whenever he is at his home. ‘Umra ch ki rakheya, dil hona chahida jawan’, ‘Baike dekh jawana baabe bhangra paaunde ne’ are some of his favourite numbers.

On being asked about his wellbeing, he replies in a frail tone, ‘kamzori hai ajjkal thodi, garmi badi hai na’. But a resolute Fauja Singh doesn’t refrain from going out of his home and taking a walk. “I don’t want my body to fall ill, which is why I try to keep my body moving,” he said.

Avneet Kaur (19), granddaughter of Fauja Singh, also sheds some light on Singh’s daily routine and his teachings. She said no matter what, be it winter or summers, his grandfather never misses his ‘Alsi ki pinni’. “He never fails to follow his morning ritual and keeps his diet very light,” she shared.

“Also, it is only because of him that none of us eat any fast food because he has taught us that such things can slow down the functioning of the body,” said Avneet Kaur, adding that she is also into sports, is a football player and an athlete too. She said, “Ever since my childhood, I have listened to him saying that no matter what, one must not skip exercise. Even if we are inside, he asks us to do exercise every day,” Kaur said.

She said she gets motivated seeing his grandfather’s love for fitness at this age. “He never speaks to anyone in a louder voice, so, this is what I have learnt from him in my life. We have also imbibed the same qualities from him,” she said.

Was born with weak legs

• Fauja Singh has bagged many world records in multiple age brackets. He completed a marathon at the age of 100 in 2011. Interestingly, Singh began running at the age of 81
• He lost his son to an unfortunate accident. It affected him badly and he was unable to cope with it. In order to get over the tragedy, he went to England to his another son, where he started running so that he could tire himself to sleep
• It became his daily routine and it is then that people started noticing him and heaping praises on him
• Harvinder Singh, Fauja’s youngest son, says his father was born with weak legs, for which kids in the village would always tease him