Milkha Singh passes away losing battle to Covid19

Known as the Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh died at PGIMER, Chandigarh. He is survived by three daughters Dr Mona Singh, Aleeza Grover, Sonia Sanwalka, and son Jeev Milkha, who is an ace golfer.

He was the 1958 Commonwealth Games champion and four-time Asian Games champion. The Flying Sikh had nearly won a 400m medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics - but ultimately missed out.

“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," a statement by Singh’s family said.

“He fought hard but God has his ways and it was perhaps true love and companionship that both our mother Nirmal ji and now Dad have passed away in a matter of 5 days," it added.

The legendary sprinter had tested positive on May 19 but was isolating at his Chandigarh residence after revealing that he was asymptomatic.

However, his situation worsened, a few days later, and he was admitted to the ICU of Mohali's Fortis hospital with "COVID pneumonia".

A week later, Milkha was discharged on the request of his family, but his wife Nirmal Kaur, who was also admitted to the same hospital, continued to battle the infection.

On June 3, Milkha was admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of PGIMER Chandigarh where his condition was said to be "stable and continues to improve".

Nirmal Kaur succumbed to Covid-19 on June 13. Milkha could not attend her last rites as he was in the ICU.

In a statement PGIMER, Chandigarh said, "Legendary Indian sprinter Shri Milkha Singh ji was admitted in the ICU of Covid hospital of PGIMER on 3rd June 2021...However, he was shifted out of Covid Hospital to medical ICU due to post-Covid complications. Despite best efforts Milkha Singh Ji could not be retrieved. He left for his heavenly abode at 11:30 p.m. on 18th June 2021 at PGIMER."

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju also condoled his death in a Twitter message where he shared a video clip of a TV programme in which Milkha Singh conveyed his last wish to see an Indian sprinter win a gold medal in Olympics.

Missing Olympic Glory

On his Rome Olympic performance when he missed the medal narrowly, the Olympic website writes:

"Firing off the blocks, Milkha was quick to join the lead pack. He continued to push himself, keeping his pace up for much of the first part of the run and looked certain of a podium finish, which would have created history for India at the Olympics.

However, an error in judgment saw him slow down before the final turn, giving Malcolm Spence of South Africa enough room to close down on the Indian.

The move proved too costly for Milkha Singh, as Spence edged ahead to take the bronze medal in 45.5 seconds while the Indian fell mighty close, finishing his run 0.1 seconds slower, leading to a photo finish at the line and leaving him wondering about the ‘what-ifs’.

The race was won by Otis Davis clocking 44.9 seconds, a world record then, and by a paper-thin margin over German Carl Kaufmann."

"I knew what my fatal error was. After running perilously fast in lane five, I slowed down at 250m and could not cover the lost ground after that, and that cost me the race," he said recalling the race.

Condoling Milkha Singh's death, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh said his demise "marks the end of an era and India & Punjab are poorer today".

Paying rich tributes to Milkha Singh, the Athletics Federation of India wrote: "A Titan who lifted the profile of athletics in a young nation, his sharp observations on Indian sport will be missed."