Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Milkha Singh, one of country’s ace sprinters died of Covid-19 related complications on Friday night at PGI, Chandigarh. His wife Nirmal Milkha Singh, too, died of Covid-19 days ago at Fortis, Mohali.
I met Milkha Singh ( then Director Sports,Punjab) in 1981 when I was posted at SBI Sector-17 Chandigarh Maib Branch .His office was on the first floor next to Azad Hind Stores in Sector -17 Chandigarh.I showed him a 1950s photograph running barefoot in a major event.He immediately asked me to give him the photograph as souvenir.
Milkha Singh known worldwide as “Fyingh Sikh”, missed the medal by 0.1 seconds at 1960 Rome Olympics in the 400-meters finals, although he was hot favourite to win the sprint. Many stories & jokes were also related to him. A film titled” Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” (2013) was also made on his life, directed by Rakesysh Omprakash starring Farhan Akhtar (playing as Milkha Singh), Sonam Ahuja, Meesha Shafi & Yograj Singh.
As an international athlete Milkha Singh won two Gold Medals at 1958 Asian Games held at Tokyo ( Japan ) in 200m & 400m sprint. He also won a Gold at 1958 Commonwealth Games) followed by two more Gold Medals at 1962 Jakarta ( Indonesia) Asian Games in 400m & 4X400m relay race. Milkha Singh was bestowed with Padma Shri but he later refused to accept Arjun Award for he thought it was not at all commensurate with his achievements as a renowned sportsman.
