After charming scores of fans with his amazing feats, centenarian British-Indian athlete Fauja Singh, surprised Hong Kongers, completing a 10-km run here on Sunday.
“The weather was very pleasant, I enjoyed the race very much,” Singh, popularly known as the “Turbaned Torpedo,” said after crossing the finishing line in one hour and 34 minutes.
Singh, who attributes his fitness to a healthy lifestyle totally insulated from cigarette and alcohol, raised 2,00,000 Hong Kong dollars (USD 25,800) for acharity through the event.
Ironically, even as Singh achieved the feat, a 26-year-old male runner fainted after completing the race and was declared “brought dead” in hospital.
Born on April 1, 1911, Singh claims to be the world's oldest marathoner but has been denied entry into the Guinness World Records as he failed to produce his birth certificate.
Singh has participated in various international events including the 2003 London Marathon, where he recorded his current personal best time of 6 hours and 2 minutes.
He was given the “Pride of India” award last year by a U.K-based organisation.
