Milkha Singh | Journey of The Flying Sikh

Milkha Singh, who is popularly known as “The Flying Sikh”, was an Indian track and field sprinter who was introduced to the sport while serving in the Indian Army. He has won medals in multiple events like the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games representing India. His contribution to Indian sports remains inspirational and unparalleled. In this article, we will discuss his early life, athletic career, personal and public life, achievements, and awards in detail.

Milkha Singh | Journey of The Flying Sikh

Who is Milkha Singh?

Milkha Singh was born on 20 November 1929, in Govindpura a village, in Punjab Province, British India which is present in Muzaffargarh District, Pakistan. As a child, he used to run 10 kilometers to and from school. In 1952, at the age of 23, he was recruited as a sepoy in the Indian army. There, Singh’s teachers and fellow students realized just how quickly the young man’s legs could take him as he sprinted six miles in pursuit of a promised glass of milk. With regular training and numerous sports meets, he frequently excelled in the 400-meter run, running barefoot for about three years. After placing sixth in an army-mandated cross-country race for recruits, the army chose him for special athletic training.

Milkha Singh – Personal Life

• He got married in 1962 to Nirmal Saini, a former Indian women’s volleyball team captain.
• Nirmal and Milkha Singh have 3 daughters and a son.
• Milkha Singh’s son Jeev Milkha Singh Rathore is a famous Professional Golfer of India who has won numerous Championships and Tournements.

Milkha Singh – The Flying Sikh – Overview

Here is the general overview of the Flying Sikh of India as mentioned below.

Name	Milkha Singh
Nickname	The Flying Sikh
Birth Date and Place	Born on 20 November 1929 in Govindpura, Punjab, British India. (Present Day Pakistan)
Death Date and Place	Demise on 18 June 2021 in Chandigarh, India.
International Events Participation	Represented India in Olympics: 1956 Olympics in Melbourne 1960 Olympics in Rome 1964 Olympics in Tokyo Represented India in Asian Games 1958 Tokyo (Gold Medal in 200m , 400m Men’s Race) 1962 Jakarta (Gold Medal in 400m , 4 X 400m Men’s Race) Represented India in Commonwealth Games 1958 Cardiff, Wales (Gold Medal in 440 Yards Men’s Race)
National Games	1958 Cuttack (Gold Medal in 200m , 400m Men’s Race) 1962 Kolkatta (Silver medal – 400m Men’s Race)
Awards	Padma Shri Helms World Trophy for Asia Bharat Gaurav Award
Auto Biography	The Race of My Life
Family	Spouse – Nirmal Saini Children – Jeev Milkha Singh, Sonia Sanwalka

Milkha Singh’s Athletic Carrer

Let us discuss about the athletic carrer of Milkha Singh.

Domestic Carrer

A number of coaches shaped Milkha Singh’s domestic career. Among them were Gurdev Singh, who trained him in the army, and Baldev Singh, who mentored him in the national camps. He participated in many national games winning Gold at 200m and 400m sprints at the Cuttack Nationsal game, 1958 and Silver at 400m sprint in Kolkatta National Games. He also set records for the 200m and 400m in the National Games of India, held at Cuttack.

International Carrer

Milkha Singh’s international career was shaped by his coach Arthur W Howard who assisted him in improving skills and performance thus winning Gold medals at the Asian Games 1958, 1962 at various track events like 200m, 400m, and 4X400 meter relay. His achievement in the Commonwealth Games of 1958, made him the first gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games from independent India. He represented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. In the Rome Olympics he missed medals in a close photofinish which placed him in 4th position.

Journey Of Milkha Singh To ‘The Flying Sikh’

Milkha Singh’s early childhood was impacted by the partition of British India. Singh’s personal life had seen many downs due to the incidents of partition. In a special turn of events, the India – Pakistan Sports Meet in 1960 was organized and the then Prime Minster Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru persuaded Milkha Singh to represent India in the sports meet. He was challenged by Abdul Khaliq, a renowned Pakistani Athelete. In the post-race ceremony, the then Pakistani General Ayub Khan, called him ‘The Flying Sikh’.

Milkha Singh – Life after Athletics

• In the professional sphere, Milkha Singh was promoted from the rank of sepoy to junior commissioned officer in recognition of his successes in the 1958 Asian Games.
• He subsequently became Director of Sports in the intending to assist Punjab Ministry of Education.
• Milkha Singh and his daughter, Sonia Sanwalka, co-authored his autobiography, titled The Race of My Life which was published in 2013.
• He founded Milkha Singh Charitable Trust in 2003 intending to assist the poor and needy sports people.
• Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a 2013 biographical film inspired by the life of Milkha Singh was a stellar hit against at Indian Box office.

What are the Notable Achievements of Milkha Singh?

• He was awarded Padma Shri by the government of India in the year 1959 for his contribution to Indian Sports.
• He was conferred with the Helms World Trophy for Asia in 1959. The award is to honor the foremost amateur athlete of each continent of the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America
• He was presented the Bharat Gaurav Award in 2016, by East Bengal Club, which is the highest decoration by the club to honor athlete haveagainst honorary hisathlete the outstanding sports personalities who have his againsthonor made India proud in different fields of sports.
• A wax statue of Milkha Singh was unveiled at Madame Tussauds in London in September 2017, which was unveiled in Chandigarh.
• He was awarded Punjab University Khel Rattan Award by the Vice President of India for his immense contribution to the field of sports.

Milkha Singh is still a prominent Indian athlete and sportsperson who has inspired millions of Indians since Independence and in the years to come. Indians hold great affection for his early struggles and journey to success. His demise in the year 2021 due to pneumonia caused by COVID-19 marks the loss of a legendary Indian athlete.

FAQs on Milkha Singh

Why is Milkha Singh famous for?

Milkha Singh is a famous Indian Athelete who won Medals in the early decade of Indian Independence. He has won medals in Asian Games, Commonwealth Games.

Who gave Flying Sikh title?

Pakistani Geneal Ayubh Khan gave the title Flying Sikh in the year 1960.

Has Milkha Singh won Olympic?

No, Milkha Singh has not won any Olympic medal. He was close to winning a medal in Rome Olympics but he fininshed in 4th position.

How much speed does Milkha Singh run?

Milkha Singh has a record of sprinting 400m in 45.73 seconds, which became his identity in the decades to come.

When did Milkha Singh win his first Medal?

Milkha Singh won India’s first gold medal in the 440 yards race at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.

Why did Milkha Singh lose the olympic medal?

Milkha Singh lost the race because he slowed down in about 250 metres and turned to face his rivals, which made it harder for him to make up lost ground.