Man Kaur’s Extraordinary Journey: Senior Athlete Wins World Gold

Man Kaur entered the world on 1 March 1916 in Patiala, Punjab, and lived a conventional life as a homemaker. The turning point arrived when she observed her son, Gurdev Singh, training for athletics, prompting her to lace up shoes at the age of 93.

She raced her first 100‑metre sprint that year and impressed spectators with her speed. The following year, now 101, she traveled to Auckland for the World Masters Games, finishing the 100‑metre race in 1 minute 14 seconds and taking home the gold medal—her 17th gold medal in senior competition.

Later in 2016, Kaur dominated the Sacramento meets in the United States, winning gold in both the 100‑metre and 200‑metre races. In September, at the Masters Athletics Championship in Vancouver, she secured four gold medals across sprint, javelin and discus events. A subsequent triumph in Germany’s World Masters Athletics earned her the title “Running Queen of India.”

In recognition of her achievements, the Government of India awarded her the Nari Shakti Award in 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited her to the Fit India Movement launch, citing her as an inspirational figure. Man Kaur passed away on 31 July 2021, leaving an indelible mark on Indian sport.