Who is Milkha Singh – Biography, Life story, Award, Achievement

Milkha Singh is India’s most famous and respected sprinter till date. He is the first Indian to win a gold medal for India in the Commonwealth Games. For his incomparable contribution to sports, the Government of India has also honored him with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest honor. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also used to praise Milkha Singh after seeing his game. And he was proud of Milkha Singh.

Milkha Singh Early life and His Family

 Milkha Singh was born on 20 November 1929 in a Sikh Rathor family in Punjab, undivided India. He was one of the total 15 children of his parents. Many of his siblings passed away in childhood. Milkha Singh lost her parents and siblings in the riots that followed the partition of India. Eventually they came to Delhi from Pakistan by train as a refugee. In Delhi, he stayed for a few days at his married sister’s house. After living in refugee camps for some time, he also lived in a resettlement settlement in Shahdara area of ​​Delhi.

Milkha Singh lost his parents in the chaos that followed the partition of India. Eventually they came to India from Pakistan by train as a refugee. After such a terrible childhood, he decided to do something in his life. After gaining a reputation as a promising sprinter, he successfully ran the 200m and 400m, thus becoming India’s most successful sprinter ever. For some time he was also the world record holder of 400m.

Who is Milkha Singh | Biography, Life story, Award, Achivement

The whole sporting world got to know him when he accepted a medal with long hair for being a Sikh after winning gold at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. At the same time, he was invited to run in Pakistan, but he was reluctant to go there because of childhood events. But he was asked to leave for fear of political upheaval if he did not go.

He accepted the invitation to run. In the race, Milkha Singh easily demolished his rivals and won easily. The mostly Muslim spectators were so impressed that even completely Burkanshin women took off their masks to see this great sprinter pass by, since then he received the title of Flying Sikh.

In the army, he worked hard and established himself in 200m and 400m and achieved success in many competitions. He represented India in the 200 and 400 meters at the 1956 Merlebone Olympic Games but could not succeed due to lack of experience at the international level, but his meeting with the winner of the 400 meters competition, Charles Jenkins, not only inspired him but also trained him. Also introduced to new methods of training.

Who is Milkha Singh | Biography, Life story, Award, Achivement

After this, in the National Games held in Cuttack in 1958, he set a national record in 200 m and 400 m competition and also won gold medals in both these competitions in Asian Games. He had another significant breakthrough in 1958 when he won a gold medal in the 400 meters event at the British Commonwealth Games. Thus he became the first player from independent India to win a gold medal in the individual event of the Commonwealth Games.

After this, he defeated the famous Pakistani sprinter Abdul Basit in Pakistan in 1960, after which General Ayub Khan called him ‘The Flying Sikh’. On 1 July 2012, he was considered as India’s most successful sprinter who has won about 20 medals in the Olympic Games. This is a record in itself.

Who is Milkha Singh | Biography, Life story, Award, Achivement

A few years before the start of the Rome Olympic Games, Milkha was in the best form of his sporting life and it was believed that Milkha would definitely get a medal in these Games. Shortly before the Rome Games, Milkha had also set a record of 45.8 seconds in France. In the 400 race, Milkha Singh definitely broke the previous Olympic record but was deprived of a medal with fourth place. Milkha, who was the frontrunner in the race for a distance of 250 meters, made a mistake that he still regrets.

He felt that he might not be able to keep himself at the same pace till the end and looked back and looked at his rivals, for which he had to bear the brunt and the runner who had hoped for gold did not win even bronze. Milkha still regrets about that. Singh was so disappointed with this failure that he made up his mind to retire from the race, but after much persuasion, returned to the field.

Who is Milkha Singh | Biography, Life story, Award, Achivement

Milkha said that his family members were murdered in front of his eyes during Partition in 1947. At that time he was 16 years old. He said, “We did not want to leave our village (Govindpura, a village some distance away from Muzaffargarh city in present-day Pakistani Punjab). When we protested, we had to face the consequences in the ugly truth of Partition. There was bloodshed all around. That was the first time I cried.” He said that when he reached Delhi after Partition, he saw many dead bodies at Old Delhi Railway Station.

They did not have food to eat and a roof to live in. Milkha said that he missed a medal in the 400 meters race by a hundredth of a second due to a mistake at the 1960 Rome Olympics. At that time also he was crying. Milkha said that he did not want to go to Pakistan in 1960 to participate in a race. But, on the persuasion of Prime Minister Nehru, he agreed to it.

Milkha Singh achieved success in sports at a time when there were no facilities available for the players, nor was there any training system for them. Even after so many years no athlete has been able to get a medal in the Olympics. Milkha Singh became so popular at the Rome Olympics that when he entered the stadium, the audience warmly welcomed him. Although there he was not the top player, but he was definitely named among the best runners. Another reason for his popularity was his growing beard and long hair. People did not know much about Sikhism at that time. So people used to think that some sadhu is running so well.

Who is Milkha Singh | Biography, Life story, Award, Achivement

At that time there was no practice of ‘patkha’, so Sikhs used to tie handkerchiefs on their heads. Another reason for Milkha Singh’s popularity was that before reaching Rome, he had defeated many big players in the Tour of Europe and before he reached Rome, his popularity had reached there. Two incidents are very important in the life of Milkha Singh. First Indo-Pak Partition incident in which his parents were killed and other relatives were also lost. Second- event of Rome Olympics, in which he missed out on medal.

In the Tokyo Asian Games, Milkha created history for Indian athletics by winning the 200 and 400 meters races. Milkha has written at one place, ‘I ran 400 meters on the first day. I was already confident of victory because I had a record in the Asian region. The tension that was there at first subsided with the sound of the starter’s pistol. As expected, I first touched the lace. I had set a new record.

The Emperor of Japan wore a gold medal around my neck. I cannot express in words the excitement of that moment. The next day was a 200 meter race. In this I had a tough fight with Abdul Khaliq of Pakistan. Khalik was the winner of the 100m. The race started.

Who is Milkha Singh | Biography, Life story, Award, Achivement

The feet of both of us were falling together. Three meters before the finishing tape, my leg muscle was pulled and I stumbled and fell. I just fell at the finishing line. In the photo finish I was declared the winner and also the best athlete in Asia.

I will never forget the words that the Emperor of Japan said to me at that time. He told me – if you keep running you can get the best place in the world. Keep running.’ Milkha Singh later retired from the sport and started working with the Indian government to promote sports.

Milkha Singh Marriage Life 

 Milkha Singh married former Indian women’s volleyball captain Nirmal Kaur in 1962. He met Kaur in 1955 in Sri Lanka. They have three daughters and one son. His son Jeev Milkha Singh is a famous golfer. In 1999, Milkha adopted a seven-year-old son of martyr Havildar Bikram Singh. Milkha currently resides in the city of Chandigarh.

Net Worth 

Milkha Singh also known as The Flying Sikh, who has an estimated Net Worth of $ 5 Million in 2021.

Know the unique things of Milkha Singh

Milkha lost his parents during the Indo-Pak partition. At that time he was only 12 years old. Since then he ran to save his life and came back to India. Every day, Milkha used to travel 10 kilometers from his village to school on foot. He wanted to join the Indian Army, but he failed thrice. But he never gave up and for the fourth time he succeeded. In 1951, when he joined the EME Center in Secunderabad. It was during that time that he came to know about his talent. And from there his career as a runner started.

When the soldiers were busy with their other work, Milkha used to run with the train. Sometimes he would even bleed while practicing, but sometimes he could not even breathe. But still he never gives up his practice, he used to practice continuously day and night. He believed that only by practicing, a person becomes perfect. His most competitive race was the cross country race. Where out of 500 runners, Milkha was ranked 6th.

Death

Milkha Singh breathed his last on June 18, 2021 at PGIMER Hospital, Chandigarh. He was suffering from Kovid-19. Four-five days ago, his wife also died of Kovid. His son Jeev Milkha Singh is a golfer.

Medal records

Award

​Padma Shri fourth-highest civilian award in the Republic of India

FAQ

Why is Milkha Singh called the Flying Sikha ? 
Milkha Singh defeated Pakistan sprinter, Abdul Khaliq in a 200 metres race and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Asian Games. Earlier, Abdul Khaliq was the fastest man in Asia. But after Milkha defeated him, he was given the title of The Flying Sikh.
Who is Milka Singh Wife ?
Milkha Singh married former Indian women’s volleyball captain Nirmal Kaur in 1962. He met Kaur in 1955 in Sri Lanka.
Who gave Milkha Singh, the title of Flying Sikh?
The credit for giving the title. Flying Sikh to Milkha Singh goes to General Ayub from Pakistan.
How Milkha Singh die ?
Milkha Singh, popularly known as the Flying Sikh, died at 91 due to post-COVID complications
Which was the greatest achievement of Milkha Singh’s career?
In the 1958 Commonwealth Games, Milkha Singh won a gold medal  by clocking 46.6 seconds (for which race) and created a new national record back then.
Which was the greatest achievement of Milkha Singh’s career?
In the 1958 Commonwealth Games, Milkha Singh won a gold medal  by clocking 46.6 seconds (for which race) and created a new national record back then. He brought an end to the long wait for India’s hopes of winning a gold at the CWG.

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External Link

India’s ‘Flying Sikh’ dies from Covid