London: Guinness World Records has refused to recognise Fauja Singh, the London-based 100-year-old Sikh, as the world's oldest man to have completed a 42km marathon. Singh ran the distance in Toronto, Canada earlier this month, finishing in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds.
Guinness World Records told TOI: "Although we appreciate the great running achievement of Mr Singh, we simply cannot acknowledge the title for the 'oldest marathon runner' until we have a copy of an original birth certificate."
Singh, who worked as a farmer in Punjab before moving to Britain in 1992, presented his passport as the proof of his age. According to the passport Singh's date of birth is April 1, 1911. Guinness World Records said: "His passport is taken as supporting evidence but the key piece of evidence is the birth certificate. They are very welcome to present this evidence whenever they are ready."
The Times Of India