Fauja Singh |

Sikh amputee finds new life in marathon running

September 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Oklahoman shares the story of one Devender Pal Singh, a 39-year-old Sikh marathoner from India known as “the Indian Blade Runner” because he runs long distances on a prosthetic leg. Devender Pal Singh visited Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to receive a new prosthetic to help him better run long distances. He lost his leg in 1999 after sustaining injuries in the Kargil War: Devender Pal Singh said he sustained severe injuries in 1999 when his Indian Army unit guarded the […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: amputee, Fauja Singh, Kargil War, Major Devender Pal Singh, marathon, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Prosthesis, TED, TEDx

The Surat Fauj Running Club in New York. (source: The Huffington Post)

Running with a purpose

April 10, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Bandana Kaur and Simran Jeet Singh write on The Huffington Post about the Surat Fauj Running Club, a Sikh American group that has taken its inspiration from the famous 102-year-old (and recently retired) marathoner Fauja Singh: “Running has become such an important part of the American cultural landscape, and participating in events like these will help us combat stereotypes that lead people to see us as different. We want everyone around us to see for who we are, and we […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: Bandana Kaur, Fauja Singh, Huffington Post, Simran Jeet Singh, Surat Fauj Running Club, Surat Initiative

Mini-documentary on Fauja Singh’s last marathon

February 25, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Shared by Chaz Singh, CNN aired the mini-documentary above showing the United Kingdom’s 101-year-old Fauja Singh — the world’s oldest marathon runner — in his last race on Saturday in Hong Kong. In the video, Fauja Singh reveals the secret behind his improved pace in his final run: “I had lots of power today because I was very happy. The strength I had comes from happiness within.”

Categories: Profiles • Tags: CNN, Fauja Singh, Hong Kong Marathon

Fauja Singh, 101 years old, is retiring from competitive marathons after this weekend. (source: ESPN)

Fauja Singh reaches the finish line, but will keep on running

February 24, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In arguably the best piece written about centenarian (and world’s oldest) marathoner Fauja Singh, Jordon Conn of ESPN provides a touching biography of the inspirational figure: Once he got going, he had to listen to cries of “Osama!” and “Saddam!” from the crowd. The pack pulled away, and Fauja slipped behind, stopping every so often for rest and medical treatment. Blisters formed, and soon they burst, the blood filling Fauja’s sock. His run became a walk; his walk became a […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: Fauja Singh, Hong Kong Marathon

Centenarian marathon runner Fauja Singh to retire

February 1, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The world’s oldest marathon runner at age 101, Fauja Singh of the United Kingdom has announced that he will run his last marathon in Hong Kong at the end of this month: “He said he achieved this through the help of God, but even God must be getting fed up with helping him,” [coach] Harmander Singh said. While Singh won’t be competing anymore, he doesn’t plan on completely giving up on the sport. Instead Singh is planning on a lighter […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: Fauja Singh, marathon, SikhLens Sikh Arts and Film Festival

The Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2011

January 5, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Happy New Year! As I did last year around this time, I’d like to reflect on what were some of the bigger stories for Sikhs living in America during this past year in terms of their implications on us as a community, or their impact on our collective psyche. It was an up-and-down year for Sikhs. For many, it was a year that reminded our visible minority of the hate crimes and 9/11 backlash that apparently still continue to plague […]

Categories: Reflections • Tags: Amardeep Singh, Balbir Singh Sodhi, Fauja Singh, Gurmej Atwal, Jan Brewer, Kamal Nath, New York, Rana Singh Sodhi, Ravinder Singh Bhalla, Sikhs for Justice, Surinder Singh, Top 5 Sikh American Stories

Guinness lets the air out of Fauja Singh’s balloon

October 25, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Centenarian Fauja Singh’s record-setting completion of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon won’t be record-setting, after all. Guinness World Records will not recognize Fauja Singh’s achievement because he cannot present a birth certificate – a document that was not produced in India in 1911 – to prove the year of his birth. His passport and other documented evidence is not acceptable to Guinness. His trainer, Harmandar Singh, suggests that there is a disconnect in recognizing the status of developing nations: Harmandar Singh, […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Canada, Centenarian, Fauja Singh, Guinness World Record, marathon, Toronto Marathon, Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Picture of the Day: Fauja Singh, age 100, finishes Toronto Waterfront Marathon

October 17, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The 100-year-old British citizen Fauja Singh (nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado”) completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in Canada this past weekend, setting a Guinness World Record as the oldest person to complete a marathon. He completed the race in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds. Watch Fauja Singh cross the finish line: You can also read the NPR story on Fauja Singh’s inspiring accomplishment.

Categories: Picture of the Day, Profiles • Tags: Canada, Centenarian, Fauja Singh, Guinness World Record, marathon, Toronto, Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Fauja Singh