103-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh gets Queen's honours for athletic achievements

A 103-year-old British Sikh marathon runner will be receiving an award in the New Year Honours.

Fauja Singh, who holds the world record for the marathon in his age group - along with five British records and completed his last competitive 26-mile race in Hong Kong only last year, will be receiving the British Empire Medal in recognition of his athletic achievements, the Independent reported.

The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, with New Year's Day, 1 January, being marked by naming new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honours.