4 UK
NRI Sikh runners hog the limelight
LAHORE, Jan. 31, 2005
Daily Times
Four Sikhs from England, with their combined age
of 280 years, are the main attraction in the $100,000
Lahore Marathon to be held here on Sunday (tomorrow).
Heading the list is 93-year old Fauja Singh and he
along with 73-year old Amrik Singh, 69 years old Ajit
Singh and 45 years old Harmander Singh form an interesting
foursome. The quartet has challenged the local teams
to run the race in 4 hours and 40 minutes, which they
hope to clock. Fauja has competed over six times in
London Marathon and has been competing the world over
including US and Canada marathons regularly. Fauja
said running had become passion for him and although
he gave up the original marathon some years ago, he
continued to run in half marathons. In Lahore he is
competing in 10 km race.
“We are here to enjoy and also our participation
will show to the world that what good health means,”
said Amrik, originally from Mallapur, Ludhiana. He
migrated to England in 1964. He retired as a mathematics
teacher in 1990. Ajit graduated from Khalsa College,
Sadar before moving to England in search of a better
future. Both started running long distance in 1971
after they joined Lorkhall Academy, Scotland. Amrik’s
first long distance run was at the age of 55. He clocked
one hour and 18 minutes in a half marathon. He has
taken part in London Marathon 16 times and along with
Ajit has also participated in New York Marathon (twice),
and in Holland, France, Germany, Belgium and Australia.
Harmander Singh who is accompanying Fauja Singh said:
“We are not here to win, but our participation
will send a very positive message to the youth that
health is wealth.” The Sikhs are excited to be
in this city of Gardens, “We are here to relate
ourselves with our roots. It was our desire to visit
Lahore and then Nankana Sahib.”
