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Media release

World's Oldest Marathoner Fauja Singh Runs The Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2012

17 November 2012

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World's Oldest Marathoner Fauja Singh Runs The Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2012

101-year old will be running 10km for the SportCares Foundation on 2 December

Singapore, 17 November 2012 - Fauja Singh, believed to be the world's oldest marathoner at 101 years old, will be participating in the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore on Sunday, 2 December 2012.

  1. The British centenarian marathoner will be running in the 10km race with his son, Sukhjinder Singh, 53, while four others from their running group, Sikhs In The City (SITC), will be participating in the full marathon in Singapore.

  2. Born in India, Fauja moved to London in 1992 and is currently based in Essex, Ilford. An amateur runner in Punjab before giving up the sport in 1947, he picked up running again after the demise of his wife and he relocated to London to live with his youngest son. Fauja has since completed nine full marathons and holds the world record for the men's over-90 category after running the Toronto marathon in five hours and 40 minutes in 2003.

  3. Taking part in one of his last races before he retires, Fauja and his team will be running to raise awareness for the SportCares Foundation, a Vision 2030 initiative that aims to leverage on the power and positive impact of sport as a force for social good - for underprivileged children, youth-at-risk, needy seniors, people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities and the disadvantaged in our community.

  4. "We aim to do something positive for the local community wherever we go and this trip to Singapore will not be different. Fauja chose to raise funds for the SportCares Foundation and we are happy to give a helping hand to the less fortunate," said Harmander Singh, his running coach who will also be running the full marathon.

  5. "Fauja has inspired many around the world with his races and we are truly honoured to have him run in the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore. Sport has the power to change lives and by running for the SportCares Foundation, Fauja will be inspiring many individuals and corporate supporters to make a difference to those in need." said Mr Toh Boon Yi, Chief, Strategic Development & Marketing Group, Singapore Sports Council and Deputy Chairman of the SCMS 2012 organising committee. "Fauja personifies the Vision 2030 philosophy that people can live better through sports."

Enclosed

Annex: Fact Sheet of Mr Fauja Singh

Name: Fauja Singh
Date of birth: 1 April 1911
Place of birth: India
Current place of residency: Essex, Ilford, England
Total number of full marathons: Nine
Marathon debut: London, Year 2000, at age 89
Running Group: Sikhs In The City - www.sikhsinthecity.org
GiveAsia webpage: http://www.giveasia.org/movement/worlds_oldest_marathoner_fauja_singh_runs_for_sportcares_foundation

World Records set:
Toronto Marathon, 2003 (Men's over-90 category) - 5 hours and 40 minutes
Eight records set in one day as a 100 year old (2011):

  1. 100 metres -- 23.40 seconds (previous 29.83)

  2. 200 metres -- 52.23 seconds (previous 77.59 seconds)

  3. 400 metres -- 2:13.48 (previous 3:41.00)

  4. 800 metres -- 5:32.18 (no previous record)

  5. 1,500 metres -- 11:27.00 (previous 16:46.00)

  6. Mile -- 11:53.45 (no previous record)

  7. 3,000 metres -- 24:52.47 (no previous record)

  8. 5,000 metres -- 49:57.39 (no previous record)

Sequence of Fauja Singh's 10km, Half and Full Marathon timings:

  • London Flora Marathon 2000 - 6 Hours 54 minutes

  • London Flora Marathon 2001 - 6 Hours 54 Minutes

  • London Flora Marathon 2002 - 6 Hours 45 Minutes

  • Bupa Great North Run (Half Marathon) 2002 - 2 Hours 39 minutes

  • London Flora Marathon 2003 - 6 Hours 2 minutes

  • Toronto Waterfront Marathon 2003 - 5 Hours 40 minutes

  • New York City Marathon 2003 - 7 Hours 35 minutes

  • London Flora Marathon 2004 - 6 Hours 7 minutes

  • Glasgow City Half Marathon 2004 - 2 Hours 33 minutes

  • Capital Radio Help a London Child 10,000m 2004 - 68 minutes

  • Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon 2004 - 2 Hours 29 minutes 59 seconds

  • Lahore Marathon (10,000m) 2005 - 64 minutes

  • Newham Classic 10,000m, March 2010 - 75 minutes

  • ING Luxembourg (Half) Marathon. May 2010 - 3 hours 32 minutes (became oldest half marathoner)

  • Newham Classic 10km, 10 April 2011 - 83 minutes (fastest ever for a 100 year old runner)

  • Toronto Waterfront Marathon, 16 October 2011 - 8 hours 11 minutes 6 seconds (at the age of 100)

  • Hong Kong Marathon, 10km, 2012 - 94 minutes (raising $25,800 for charity)

  • Newham Classic 10km, 15 April 2012 - 77 minutes 32 seconds

  • Virgin London Marathon, 22 April 2012 - 7 hours 49 minutes and 21 seconds

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