Flying Sikh Of India: We all know about Milkha Singh, an Indian track and field sprinter who was introduced to the sport while serving in the Indian Army. He was born in Govindpura, 10 kilometers from Muzaffargarh city in Punjab (now Muzaffargarh District) Pakistan on 20 November 1929. Died at the aged of 91 in Chandigarh, India on 18 June 2021 from Covid complications just after five days after her wife passed away.
He is the first Indian male to reach the final of an Olympic athletics event when he placed fourth in the 400 meters race at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and Milkha Singh is the only athlete to win gold in 400 meters at the Asian Games as well as Commonwealth Games. Milkha Singh’s average running speed at the 1960 Rome Olympics 400m final was 32km/hr.
Early life
Credit: Google
Milkha Singh was born into a Sikh family. He was one of 15 siblings, eight of whom died before the Partition of India. At the time of the Partition when his parents, a brother, and two sisters were killed in the violence that succeed between the villagers and Muslims who tried to convert them to their religion. He witnessed the all murders of their family members.
Milkha Singh Achievements
Credit: Google
He also won gold medals in the 1958 and 1962 Asian Games. He represented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, in recognition of his sporting achievements. Milkha Singh donates all these medals to the nation. At first, they were put at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Now, they are showcased at a Sports Museum in Patiala.
Milkha Singh’s fourth-place time of 45.73 seconds was the Indian National record for almost 40 years. He is also become the sporting icon of our country India. The age noted in 2006 that Milkha Singh is the only Indian to have broken an Olympic track record.
His last wish was to see an athlete from India win an Olympic medal in a track and field event.