Milkha Singh, popularly known as “The Flying Sikh,” was a renowned Indian sprinter who began competing while serving in the Indian Army. On November 20th, 1929, Milkha Singh was born. He came from a Rathore Rajput Sikh household. Govindpura is a settlement in Punjab Province, British India, that is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from Muzaffargarh city (now in Pakistan).
Singh competed in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in the 200m and 400m sprints for India. Due to his lack of experience, he did not go past the heat stages, but a meeting with Charles Jenkins, the 400m winner at those Games, encouraged him and gave him valuable information about training techniques. Singh won gold medals in the 200m and 400m in the National Games of India in Cuttack in 1958, He also won gold medals in the 200m and 400m at the Asian Games in 1958. With a time of 46.6 seconds, he won a gold medal in the 400m at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. This performance earned him the position of first gold medallist from independent India in the Commonwealth Games. Singh won gold in the 400m and the 4 x 400m relay at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta.
Following his victory in 1958, Singh received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor. In 2001, he declined the Indian government’s offer of the Arjuna Award, claiming that it was designed to honor young athletes, not adults like him. Singh’s medals have all been donated to the country. They were first displayed in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, then relocated to a sports museum in Patiala, where they were paired by a pair of running shoes he wore in Rome. In 2012, he gave the Adidas sneakers he used in 1960 400m final to be auctioned off by actor Rahul Bose for charity.
Milkha Singh, a renowned Indian sprinter, died on June 18 as a result of post-Covid problems. At the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, he was receiving treatment. The 91-year-old Milkha Singh tested positive for COVID-19 on May 19 but was placed in home isolation after indicating that he was asymptomatic at his Chandigarh house. However, on May 24, the renowned athlete was taken to the Fortis hospital’s ICU in Mohali owing to “COVID pneumonia.” On June 3, he was transferred to PGIMER in Chandigarh. He was cremated with full state honors.
Nirmal Kaur, who was a former national volleyball captain and also the wife of Milkha Singh, also died due to post-Covid problems. The couple died with a mere gap of 5 days.
In a statement, his family confirmed, “It is with extreme sadness that we would like to inform you that Milkha Singh Ji passed away at 11.30 pm. on the 18th of June 2021.”
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, paid tribute to the renowned sprinter. In his tweet, PM Modi wrote, “In the passing away of Shri Milkha Singh Ji, we have lost a colossal sportsperson, who captured the nation’s imagination and had a special place in the hearts of countless Indians. His inspiring personality endeared himself to millions. Anguished by his passing away.”
Eduindex News 