Country pays tribute to The Flying Sikh

Chandigarh, June 19

Tributes poured as the country bade adieu to “The Flying Sikh” Milkha Singh (91), who died of Covid at the PGIMER here last night, less than a week after he lost his wife Nirmal Kaur, a former national volleyball captain, to the deadly virus. Milkha Singh was cremated with full state honours at the Sector 25 cremation ground here today.

He is survived by his golfer son Jeev Milkha Singh and three daughters.

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cricket superstars to India’s new age track-and-field hopes like Hima Das, tributes were not just an admiration of Milkha’s legacy, but also indicative of the strong influence it had on the nation’s sporting culture.

Modi described him as “colossal sportsperson, who captured India’s imagination. “In the passing away of Shri Milkha Singh Ji, we have lost a colossal sportsperson, who captured the nation’s imagination and had a special place in the hearts of countless Indians… Anguished by his passing away,” Modi tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: “India mourns the sad demise of legendary sprinter Shri Milkha Singh Ji, the Flying Sikh. He has left an indelible mark on world athletics. Nation will always remember him as one of the brightest stars of Indian sports.”

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar said Milkha’s legend would live on. “Rest in peace our very own ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh ji. Your demise has left a deep void in every Indian’s heart, but you shall keep inspiring several generations to come,” he tweeted.

India’s football captain Sunil Chhetri perhaps best summed up the icon. “We may not have seen you compete, but every time we ran fast as kids, we ran ‘like Milkha Singh’. And for me, that will always be the legend you leave behind. You didn’t just run, you inspired. Rest in peace, sir. #MilkhaSingh,” Chhetri tweeted.

Hima Das, a 400m runner herself like Milkha, said the iconic sprinter had once told her that she was destined for big things.

Cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri said, “India mourns the sad demise of legendary sprinter Shri Milkha Singh Ji, The Flying Sikh. He has left an indelible mark on world athletics.”

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) expressed “immense sadness at the demise of one of India’s greatest ever sportspersons ‘The Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh”.

Athletics Federation of India President Adille Sumariwalla called Milkha “a Titan who lifted the profile of athletics in a young nation”.

Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh tweeted: “Very sad, heartbreaking to hear Flying Sikh Sardar Milkha Singh Ji is no more… Waheguru RIPMilkhaSinghji.”

The official handle of the Indian football team also mourned Milkha’s death. — Agencies