INDIA’S FAUJA SINGH earned his place in the Guinness World Records after he became the oldest person ever to finish a full-distance marathon yesterday.
The 100-year-old took over eight hours to complete the race and finished roughly six hours after the winner – Kenya’s Kenneth Mungara – had crossed the line.
Singh’s coach and translator, Harmander Singh, described the veteran’s reaction upon finishing the race:
“Earlier, just before we came around the (final) corner, he said, ‘Achieving this will be like getting married again.’“He’s absolutely overjoyed, he’s achieved his lifelong wish.”
It is the eight marathon that Singh has run in his lifetime – a feat made even more remarkable by the fact that he ran his first at the age of 89.
The Indian athlete’s next aim is to compete in the torch relay for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
