Fauja Singh, 101, to run in Mumbai Marathon

Mumbai: The world`s oldest runner Fauja Singh (101) will be participating in the 10th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday in what could be his first and last appearance in the city.

Singh, who lives in London, will participate in the 4.3 km event for senior citizens. He would turn 102 in April. He said he will retire after the Hong Kong Marathon of February 24. "I am enjoying it. The adulation keeps me motivated," he told reporters here. Known as `Turbaned Tornado`, Singh took up the sport when he was in his eighties after moving to London. "Every bit of money that has been raised is for charity. Whether marathons or local religious tournaments, all the raised funds will go to charity. This is what has kept me blessed and healthy. "My son, who lives in England, has been my source of inspiration. We were seeing a marathon once and I wondered why the people were running aimlessly.... "I decided to run my first 20 kms in the London Marathon in 1992 under the training of my coach Harmander Singh ... today, I view life differently," the centenarian said. PTI