Occupation organic farmer | ||
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Born Unknown Meerut, India Known for Claiming to be the oldest running athlete in the world | ||
Dharampal singh Gudha, also known as Dharampal singh Gujjar, is an Indian runner who has controversially claimed to be the world's oldest marathon runner at 116.
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Controversy
Gudha's claim of being 116 has generated much controversy. While Gudha refers to his passport and Voter ID Card, both of which state 1897 as his year of birth, and his PAN card, which asserts he is 116, he does not have a birth certificate to prove his age. However, officials found a school transfer certificate that shows he is likely "78 or so". Suggestions have been made that Gudha was keeping around an old Voter ID that had not been corrected to "hide his age".
Personal life
Gudha was born in the village of Pandava, Hastinapur, and comes from an agricultural background. He claims to have been running since he was a teenager.
"When I was young, I used to run from my village to the neighboring village, which was about 600 to 700 meters away. I would run several laps. I did not know how to run then, the technique of it, but I did it on instinct," he said. He gets up at 4 am and runs four kilometers daily. He takes part in Inter-State level races for veterans in the 100, 200 and 400 meter categories. To date, Gujjar has taken part in more than three dozen races in different parts of the country. Gudha has lost count of the number of marathons that he has run. However, he recollects running at marathons in Allahabad, Nainital, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and claims to have run 50 others. He states that he ran his first marathon in 1970.
When asked about his continued fitness, he says it is all about having a controlled diet. He has led a strict healthy lifestyle since childhood and gives credit to his balanced diet of self prepared chutney along with mineral water and lemon juice for his longevity. "I eat a strict and balanced diet and have no illness. I stopped eating ghee and other fatty items almost 40 years ago, neither do I drink or smoke.” he said. He has been a strict vegetarian since birth.
Awards
Gudha has won more than 20 medals in national and international athletic events in his age category. This included gold in the Malaysian championships in 2014.