Punjab-born centenarian Fauja Singh, who defies age to run marathons, drew the loudest cheers on Saturday, as the Olympic Torch was carried by him, Olympic medal winners, and leading individuals through London, amidst a welcome, clear sky and sunshine.
Clad in all-white apparel and a matching white turban, the sprightly Singh carried the torch, accompanied by hundreds of admirers, including Sikhs with yellow t-shirts bearing Singh’s image, who hailed him every moment of the distance he travelled.
Mr. Singh was born in 1911, and began running at 86 to keep himself occupied.
He has since set several records for people of his age, running six London marathons, two Canada marathons, and the New York marathon.
Clearly a sensation for his achievements, his participation in the relay was described by admirers and onlookers as “a moment of history.”
Mr. Singh, who carried the Olympics Torch in Athens eight years ago, now wants to carry it before the 2016 Olympics too, when he will be 105.
Hundreds of Sikhs organised a ‘langar’ at 16 points along the torch relay route to celebrate Mr. Singh’s efforts.
The torch from Greenwich to Waltham Forest was carried by several Olympians, including Nadia Comaneci, and Indian-origin individuals who have excelled in various fields, such as Kaushali Trivedi (23), Natasha Sinha (15), Priya Rajgor (20), and Drashti Shah (16). The relay’s youngest and oldest were among the 143 torchbearers on Saturday.
