Personalities 

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Fauja Singh 

Fauja Singh, the legendary “Turbaned Tornado” and world’s oldest marathoner, was laid to rest on July 20, 2025, with full state honours in his native village Beas near Jalandhar. 

• Fauja Singh is known as the world’s oldest marathon runner, completing his last full marathon at the age of 100. 
• Fauja Singh was awarded this prestigious honor by the National Ethnic Coalition on November 13, 2003, for being a symbol of racial tolerance, becoming the first non-American to receive it. 
• He was honoured with the Pride of India title in 2011 for his remarkable achievements and inspirational journey.

Murali Sreeshankar  

Star Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secured the title at the Meeting Maia Cidade do Desporto in Maia, Portugal, with a jump of 7.75 meters, at a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze-level event. 

• Won bronze at the 2018 Asian Junior Athletics Championships (Gifu) with a jump of 7.47m, and clinched gold at the International Jumping Meeting “Filahtlitikos Kallithea” in Athina, Greece. 
• Set the national record with a jump of 8.36m at the National Federation Cup in Thenhipalam, where he won the silver medal. 
• Represented India at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the long jump event. 

Koneru Humpy    

Koneru Humpy, India’s chess Grandmaster, created history by becoming the first Indian to reach the FIDE Women’s World Cup semifinals.  

• Humpy became the youngest woman Grandmaster at the age of 15 in 2001 and has consistently ranked among the world’s top female chess players, winning titles like the Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship (2019) and the Cairns Cup (2020). 
• She won two gold medals at the 2006 Asian Games and has been honoured with the Arjuna Award (2003), Padma Shri (2007), and BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year (2020). 
• Humpy is currently ranked World No. 2 among women chess players, with a FIDE rating of 2586.