Good Sports: Fauja Singh Book Wins Award
On Oct. 16, 2011, Fauja Singh became the first 100-year-old to complete a marathon, crossing the finishing line at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8:11:06.
Singh, now 110, has inspired many people through his feats, including Sikh activist Simran Jeet Singh, who wrote a children’s book about Fauja Singh.
Entitled Fauja Singh Keeps Going, the book has been honored with a 2021 Christopher Award in the children’s books category (ages 6 and up).
The award cites Simran Singh’s book for conveying “a message about appreciating people who look different from us.”
Simran wanted to write the book to ensure that his kids and others are able to find books featuring Sikh characters in bookstores and libraries. It may also ensure that more people take up running, just as the author did.
“The day that he became the first 100-year-old to complete a 26.2-mile marathon is the same day I signed up to run my first marathon,” Simran writes on his website. “And, like Fauja, I haven’t stopped running since.”
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Compiled and partly written by Indian humorist MELVIN DURAI, author of the novel Bala Takes the Plunge.
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