101-year-old grandma, runner at World Masters Games

Dubbed the ‘Miracle from Chandigarh’, she shot to fame after winning the 100-metre sprint at the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand, earlier this year. Kaur was recently in the news after she was denied a visa by China, where she was to have taken part in a championship. 

But the grandmother, who now trains in Patiala after moving to the city from Chandigarh about a year ago, is not unduly troubled by that and is looking forward to her next sprint. 

“Practice and participation in events give me happiness,” Kaur told when asked what drove her to compete. Though her achievements on the field are well known, not many would be aware of the secret behind her fitness at 101. Talking about Kaur’s wellness mantra, her son Gurdev Singh, who also takes part in international races and athletic events, said her diet was similar to that of any young athlete preparing for a competition. “She has six rotis, prepared with sprouted wheat, sprouted kala chana and barley every day,” he said. 

Apart from the rotis, she has a diet of soya milk, seasonal fruits, juices and fermented milk, which they get from Canada, Singh said. Kaur also trains regularly, varying her regimen from day to day. Her 79-year-old son said on some days she goes for a run, and on other days she practises her javelin or shotput throw. 

“On certain days, she goes to the gym and does weight training,” he said. Kaur, who has been nominated for the prestigious ‘Laureus World Best Sporting Moment of the Year 2017’ Award, won her first medal in 2010 at the Chandigarh Masters Athletics meet. Laureus World Sports Awards, established by Laureus Sport for Good Foundation founding patrons Daimler and Richemont, honour remarkable individuals from the world of sports. 

At the World Masters Games in Auckland this year, she won the gold in the 100 metres, clocking one minute and 14 seconds. Kaur and Singh were last month denied a visa by China on the grounds that they did not have a personal invitation from the organisers of the Asian Masters Athletics Championships.