Richmond key defender, Alex Rance, met 102-year-old Indian marathon runner, Fauja Singh, in the rooms before last Thursday night’s blockbuster Round 1 clash with Carlton. 

Singh ran his first marathon at the age of 89, in London, and he went on to complete eight more 42km races.  

In 2011, at Toronto, Canada, he became the world’s oldest man to run a full marathon, at the age of 100.

Singh’s best marathon race time is five hours and 40 minutes, which he clocked at Toronto in 2003.

“It was a privilege to meet Fauja, especially after I heard about his achievements as a marathon runner. He has inspired many people throughout the world and it was great to have him attend our game,” Rance said.

Singh was in Australia to attend the opening ceremony of the Australian Sikh Games, a major Indian festival.

While he was touring, he also participated in Melbourne’s Run for the Kids, and celebrated his 102nd birthday on April 1.

Richmond is committed to working with multicultural communities, including the delivery of the AFL Multicultural Schools program.  The Tigers also support the Masala Football Club, a predominantly Indian football team, participating in the Victorian Amateur Football League.