Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner and the first centenarian to complete a full marathon, died Monday after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident in his native village of Beas Pind, near Punjab, India. Indian media reported the 114-year old died from his injuries at a local hospital.On Wednesday, local police said they had arrested 26-year-old Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a non-resident Indian, in connection with the incident. Dhillon, who had been living in Canada on a work permit valid until 2027, returned to India on June 23. According to The Tribune, Dhillon confessed to the collision, and authorities have seized the Toyota Fortuner SUV he was driving as part of their investigation..During custodial interrogation, Dhillon admitted to police that he was driving too fast after selling his phone in Bhogpur when he struck Singh. “I panicked after I realized I had hit Mr. Singh,” Dhillon reportedly told officers, according to CNN-News18. He claimed he was unaware at the time that the victim was the legendary marathoner, learning of Singh’s identity only through media reports.Nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado,” Singh was an inspiration to fans globally. An amateur runner in his youth, he began running competitively at the age of 89 and ran several marathons between 2000 and 2013 before retiring. In 2011, Singh captured worldwide attention when he became the first centenarian to finish a full marathon, as recognized by the Olympics. He ran in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon that same year. Later, he served as a torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics..“I was never a runner,” Singh said in a 2011 interview with OMNI News.“All I used to do was farming so I could feed my kids.” The news of Singh’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes across India and beyond.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took to social media, calling Singh “extraordinary” and a figure who “inspired the youth of India” on fitness.
