Milkha Singh‘The Flying Sikh’

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Milkha Singh is a former Indian track and field sprinter who was the first Indian male athlete to win an individual athletics gold medal at a Commonwealth Games. Fondly called ‘The Flying Sikh’—a title bequeathed to him by the former President of Pakistan, General Ayub Khan—he is highly respected for his sporting achievements. He has made his motherland proud by winning several Gold medals in international sporting events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. He had entered the 400m race at the 1960 Olympic Games as one of the favorites and had even led the race till the 200m mark before he lost his speed and other runners overtook him. Sadly, the contender for Gold couldn’t even win a Bronze! Yet even in losing he set an Indian national record for 400m. Milkha Singh’s story is one of hope and inspiration. As a teenager he witnessed the massacre of his whole family in front of his eyes. Orphaned and heart-broken he worked up his way through life, seeking solace in the running. After years of struggle he became a successful man and today he supports needy sportsmen through the Milkha Singh Charitable trust.

Top 10 Facts You Did Not Know About Milkha Singh
  • As a young boy Milkha Singh used to walk a distance of 10 km barefoot from his home to a village school in Pakistan.
  • Several members of his family including his father were killed during the partition of India. His father’s last words as he lay dying were “Bhaag, Milkha” (run for your life Milkha).
  • This legendary runner was eliminated in the first round of 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia!
  • While in the army, he often trained himself by racing against the meter gauge trains.
  • He sometimes trained himself so hard that he used to spit blood, urinate blood and even fall unconscious during his practice sessions.
  • At the 1958 Cardiff Commonwealth Games, Milkha became the first individual to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games from Independent India.
  • His success in the 1958 Asian Games led to his promotion from a Sepoy to Junior Commissioned Officer in the army.
  • Milkha Singh became a source of wonder at the 1960 Rome Olympics as the Romans had never before seen any athlete sporting such a unique headgear and long beard!
  • He accepted only Re. 1 from film producer Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra to allow him to make his biopic ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’.
  • He refused to accept the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2001 saying it came “40 years too late”.
Awards& Achievements:
  • In the year 1958 alone, he won many major events. He won the Gold medals in the 200m and 400m competitions at the Asian Games and Gold at the 440 yards event in Commonwealth Games.
  • He was given the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 1959 for his glorious achievements in the field of sports.
  • He won Gold medals in 400m and 4x400m relay in 1962 Asian Games

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