Page 8 - NIS English 16-30 June 2022

Personality Milkha Singh

THE FLYING SIKH...

During the tragedy of Partition, his family members were
murdered in front of his eyes... he was the person who cleaned
the utensils in front of the Old Delhi railway station to feed his
family. He was sentenced to prison for travelling without a
ticket and competing in an army race for only a glass of milk.
This is the story of the struggle of an Indian personality known
throughout the world as the 'Flying Sikh,' Milkha Singh...and
this title was bestowed upon him by the same President of
Pakistan... from where his pain began...

BORN: 20 NOVEMBER 1929| DEATH: 18 JUNE 2021

ilkha Singh, the first sports star of independent not run, you have flown."
India, dominated Indian track and field for I bestow upon you the
Mover a decade with his speed and confidence title of Flying Sikh.
to advance. Throughout his career, he set numerous At the 1960 Rome
records. He represented India in Melbourne in 1956, Olympics, Milkha Singh
Rome in 1960, and Tokyo in 1964 Olympics. was considered as the
Milkha Singh, who was born on November 20, 1929 best contender for the Olympic
in Govindpura (near Muzaffargarh in Pakistan) to Sikh podium in the 400-meter race. Milkha
parents, was introduced to this sport when he came Singh came in fourth place with a time of
to India during the partition and then joined the army. 45.73 seconds. This was a national record
This was where he honed his running skills. He that had stood for 40 years. Milkha Singh
finished sixth out of 400 soldiers in a cross-country competed in his final Olympics in Tokyo
race. He was chosen for additional training after this in 1964, leading the Indian team in the
outstanding performance. This was the start of his 4x400m relay before retiring. Years later,
sporting career. Milkha could not do anything special Milkha Singh wrote about his incredible
at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne because he lacked career in his autobiography, 'The Race
special experience. Milkha Singh, on the other hand, of My Life,' which was published in July
returned from Melbourne determined to transform 2013 with the assistance of his daughter Sonia
himself into a "running machine." Sanwalka. Based on this, the biopic "Bhaag Milkha
His efforts were rewarded at the Commonwealth Bhaag" was also released. The great sprinter died on
Games in Cardiff in 1958. Milkha Singh won the gold June 18, 2021, as a result of his deteriorating health
medal in track and field. This record stood for 56 as a result of the Covid-19. The Tokyo Olympics were
years before being broken in 2014 by discus thrower about to begin when he died. Prime Minister Narendra
Vikas Gowda. Milkha Singh was invited to compete in Modi stated on his "Mann Ki Baat" programme, "When
an athletic competition between India and Pakistan Milkha Singh was in the hospital, I had the opportunity
in 1960. In the 200 metre race at the Tokyo Asian to talk to him." I urged him that when our athletes
Games, he had defeated the best runner, Abdul Khaliq. travel to Tokyo for the Olympics, you must boost their
Pakistanis wanted both of them to compete on morale and inspire them with your message. He was
Pakistani soil. Milkha Singh refused to visit Pakistan so committed to the game that he agreed to it even
because he had many painful memories of the though he was sick.
partition. But he went to Pakistan at Prime Minister Milkha Singh regretted not winning an Olympic
Nehru's request. He defeated Khalik once more there. medal for India throughout his life. Neeraj Chopra
After the race, Pakistan's President, Field Marshal fulfilled this wish by winning the gold medal in javelin
Ayub Khan, told Milkha Singh, "Milkha, today you have
throw on August 11, 2021. g
6 New India Samachar June 16-30, 2022