101-year-old Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner of Indian-origin, retired from competitive events as a "very happy" man as he finished his last race in Hong Kong on Sunday.
Singh, nicknamed the "Turbaned Tornado," finished the Hong Kong marathon's 10-kilometre race in 1 hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds. But he could not meet his goal of beating his personal record of 5:40.
"I'm very happy. When I was running I felt very good, but now that I've stopped, I'm tired," said the India-born British national, who only speaks Punjabi.
Singh, who turns 102 on April 1, became the oldest man to run a full marathon at Toronto in 2011. But his record was not recognised by Guinness World Records because he doesn't have a birth certificate to prove his age, only a passport.
Humble start
Singh, who was a farmer in Punjab before settling in England, has competed in nine 26-mile marathons in London, Toronto and New York. His best time was in Toronto, where he clocked five hours, 40 minutes and four seconds.
Singh says he does not suffer from any physical ailments. A torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics, his one regret is not being able to speak and read English.
{{/usCountry}}Singh says he does not suffer from any physical ailments. A torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics, his one regret is not being able to speak and read English.
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