He did not Run, He Flew...this, was his Final Flight | RIP Milkha Singh "The Flying Sikh"

The man whose victory was celebrated not just in India but also in Pakistan and the world over, boarded the last flight of his life, never to return. “The Flying Sikh” Milkha Singh’s legacy stays unmatched till date and will always be. 

Milkha Singh breathed his last on Friday night after battling with COVID-19 at the age of 91. One of independent India’s biggest sports icons, this Flying Sikh is the only athlete to have won gold at the Asian Games and the Common Wealth Games. It may be noted that his wife Nirmal Kaur also lost her battle to COVID on 13 June. 

Milkha Singh was born in 1929, November 20 in Punjab. Once he had even considered becoming a dacoit after a lot of disheartening experiences in life, especially the pain of partition, where he lost his parents. After being counseled by his brother, he joined the Indian Army in his 4th attempt. After he won the gold at Commonwealth Games in 1958, he had asked for one-day government holiday in India as a reward from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, which was fulfilled. 

Milkha had started training for five hours a day after realizing his potential and understanding his calling. He broke a number of records in the following years which will never be forgotten in the Indian history. A split second break in speed at the Rome Olympics in 1960 cost him a spot and he lost the gold medal the pain of which was unbearable for him forever. 

From 1958 to 1960 he saw glory. In the 200 metres and 400 metres in Cuttack National Games, he set records and was the best athlete in 1959 at the Helms Trophy. The title of “The Flying Sikh” was given to him by the President of Pakistan in 1962, a title that became his identity. He never ran, he always flew and that is how the title was bestowed upon.