Shivnath Singh

{{short description|Indian long-distance runner}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}

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| name = Shivnath Singh

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| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|07|11}}

| birth_place = Majharia, Buxar, India

| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|06|06|1946|07|11}}

| death_place = Jamshedpur, India

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| country = {{IND}}

| sport = Athletics

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| event = 5000 metres, 10000 metres, Marathon

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| pb = 10000 m: 28:58.1 (1978){{World Athletics|id=14352941}}
marathon: 2:12:00 (1978) NR

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{{MedalSport|Men's athletics}}

{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Asian Championships}}

{{MedalSilver|1973 Marikina|5000 m}}

{{MedalSilver|1973 Marikina|10,000 m}}

{{MedalSilver|1975 Seoul|5000 m}}

{{MedalSilver|1975 Seoul|10,000 m}}

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Shivnath Singh (July 11, 1946 – June 6, 2003) was one of the greatest long-distance runners that India has produced. Singh represented India twice in the Asian games and twice at the Summer Olympics (1976 and 1980). He was born in Majharia, Buxar, Bihar in India.{{Cite web |title=Remembering Shivnath Singh, India's Greatest Marathon Runner |url=https://thewire.in/sport/remembering-shivnath-singh-indias-greatest-marathon-runner |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=The Wire}} He joined the Indian Army in the Bihar Regiment and rose to the rank of Naib Subedar. He died on 6 June 2003 at Jamshedpur, India after a prolonged illness. He still holds India's national record for the marathon which he set in 1978.{{cite news |title=Shivnath Singh was a brave runner with a heart of gold |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Shivnath-Singh-was-a-brave-runner-with-a-heart-of-gold/articleshow/11983.cms? |newspaper=The Times of India |date=7 June 2003 |publisher=TOI |accessdate=25 November 2018}} It is the longest standing Indian athletics record.

Career

He represented India at the 1976 Summer Olympics and placed 11th in the 1976 Olympic Men's Marathon.{{cite web |title=A great distance runner is no more |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/07/stories/2003060705211800.htm |website=The Hindu |date=2003-06-07 |accessdate=25 November 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He dropped out of the 1980 Olympic Men's Marathon in Moscow.

Shivnath Singh competed barefoot throughout his running career.{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/shivnath-singh-was-a-brave-runner-with-a-heart-of-gold/articleshow/11983.cms |title=Shivnath Singh was a brave runner with a heart of gold |website=The Times of India |date=7 June 2003 |access-date=6 July 2017 |archive-date=14 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010308/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Shivnath-Singh-was-a-brave-runner-with-a-heart-of-gold/articleshow/11983.cms |url-status=live }} He holds the Indian national marathon record with a best time (2:12:00), a feat that he achieved in Jalandhar in 1978.

Achievements

{{AchievementTable|Event=yes}}
colspan="6"|Representing {{IND}}
rowspan=2|1973

|rowspan=2|Asian Championship

|rowspan=2|Marikina, Philippines

|bgcolor=silver|{{silver2}}

|5000 m

|14:17.0

bgcolor=silver|{{silver2}}

|10000 m

|29:54.8

rowspan=2|1975

|rowspan=2|Asian Championship

|rowspan=2|Seoul, South Korea

|bgcolor=silver|{{silver2}}

|5000 m

|14:01.2

bgcolor=silver|{{silver2}}

|10000 m

|29:14.6

1976

|Olympic Games

|Montréal, Canada

|11th

|Marathon

|2:16:22

1978

|Jalandhar Marathon

|Jalandhar, India

|bgcolor=gold|{{gold1}} NR

|Marathon

|2:12:00{{cite web |title=Shivnath Singh: India's lion-hearted runner |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/athletics/shivnath-singh-lion-hearted-runner-india |website=www.sportskeeda.com |date=5 March 2014 |publisher=sportskeeda |accessdate=25 November 2018}}

1980

|Olympic Games

|Moscow, Soviet Union

|—

|Marathon

|DNF

References

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