Milkha Singh

NAME:  MILKHA SINGH

DATE OF BIRTH : 20^TH NOVEMBER 1929

BIRTH SIGN : SCORPIO

BEGINNINGS :  

Milkha Singh also known as The Flying Sikh was born in Govindpura , a village 10 kilometers from Muzaffargarh city in Punjab Province, British India now known as Kot Adu district, Pakistan. He moved to Delhi in 1947 due to the riots. He lived with his sister for a short time and was briefly imprisoned at Tihar Jail for travelling without a ticket on a train. His sister sold some jewellery to obtain his release. His brother, Malkhan, persuaded him to attempt recruitment in the Indian Army. On his fourth attempt ,he gained entrance into the army in 1951. Where he was introduced to athletics.   Milkha represented India in the 200m and 400m competitions. Here he met his Charles Jenkins who both inspired and provided him with information about training methods. In 1958, in the National Games Of India held at Cuttack, he set records for the 200m and 400m. He won gold medals in the same event at the Asian Games.  In the same year, he won the gold medal in 400m competition at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games . This made him the first gold medalist at the Commonwealth Gamnes from Independent India.

In 1960, he was asked to race in Pakistan by Jawaharlal Nehru. He raced against Abdul Khaliq in Pakistan, where a post race comment by the then General Ayub Khan led him to acquire the nickname The Flying Sikh.

BEST KNOWN FOR :

Milkha Singh is known for his athletic contribution to India. Hehad many awards and honors to his name. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 1959. In 1962,he won a gold at the Asian Games for 400m race and a gold for the 4x400m relay. In 1964,he won a silver at the Calcutta National Games for the 400m race.

FAMILY LIFE :  

Milkha Singh was one of the 15 siblings, eight of whom died before the Partition of India. He was orphaned during the Partition. He had an elder brother, Malkhan Singh sister ,Ishar and. He married Nirmal Kaur who died in June 2021 due to covid-19. She was a former captain of Indian Women Volleyball team.They have a son,Jeev Milka Singh who is golfer and daughters Sonia Sanwalka and two more. In 1999,they adopted the seven year old son of Havildar Bikram Singh who died in the Battle of Tiger Hill.

DEATH :

Singh was admitted to Fortis Hospital on 24^th May 2021 for the treatment of covid=19.  He died on 18^th June 2021 in Chandigarh.