Who Is Milkha Singh? Age, Biography and Wiki
Milkha Singh, famously known as "The Flying Sikh," was born on November 20, 1929. He is renowned for his remarkable contributions to Indian athletics and remains a source of inspiration for athletes around the world. Although he passed away on June 18, 2021, his legacy endures as one of India's most celebrated athletes. Milkha Singh's extraordinary journey from the struggles of partition to becoming a world-class sprinter allowed him to achieve numerous accolades, including being the first Indian to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1958.
| Occupation | Athlete |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 20, 1929 |
| Age | 91 Years |
| Birth Place | Govindpura, Punjab, British India (now Punjab, Pakistan) |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Date of death | 18 June, 2021 |
| Died Place | Chandigarh, India |
Popularity
Milkha Singh's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Though specific measurements and vital statistics may vary, Milkha Singh was approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and maintained a fit physique throughout his athletic career. In his prime, he weighed around 75 kg (165 lbs), showcasing the lean yet muscular build typical for intermediate middle-distance runners.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Milkha Singh was married to Nirmal Kaur, who was a former basketball player. They had three children together, including the well-known golfer Jeev Milkha Singh. Nirmal passed away in 2021, just days before Milkha, and their love and partnership remain a cornerstone of Milkha's personal history. Their family continued his legacy through sports and community work, and Milkha's influence can be seen through the achievements of his children.
His birthplace was Govindpura, a village 10 km from Muzaffargarh city in Punjab Province, British India (now Kot Adu district, Pakistan). He was one of 15 siblings, eight of whom died before the Partition of India. He was orphaned during the Partition when his parents, a brother and two sisters were killed in the violence that ensued. He witnessed these killings.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Milkha Singh's net worth was estimated to be around $10 million. Throughout his career, he earned money through various means, including sponsorships, coaching, and public appearances. His story has been inspirational to many, leading to numerous film adaptations and motivational talks, which contributed to his financial stability.
Career, Business and Investments
Milkha Singh's illustrious career is highlighted by his impressive records on national and international stages, including the Olympics. Post-retirement, he dedicated himself to nurturing young talent in athletics and worked on various initiatives to promote sports in India. Milkha also ventured into business with a successful line of sports-related merchandise. His investments focused on supporting upcoming athletes, showcasing his commitment to the future of Indian sports.
Social Network
Milkha Singh was active on social media platforms, where he shared his journey, insights, and inspirational messages with fans and budding athletes. His presence on platforms like Instagram and Twitter allowed him to connect with a vast audience, further immortalizing his legacy as a sports icon. Following his passing, tributes poured in from around the world, showcasing the profound impact he had on both his peers and younger generations.
Singh won the British AAA Championships title at the 1960 AAA Championships. Singh was persuaded by Jawaharlal Nehru to set aside his memories of the Partition era to race successfully in 1960 against Abdul Khaliq in Pakistan, where a post-race comment by the then General Ayub Khan led to him acquiring the nickname of The Flying Sikh.
Some sources say that he set a world record of 45.8 seconds in France, shortly before the Rome Olympics in the same year but the official report of the Games lists the record holder as Lou Jones, who ran 45.2 at Los Angeles in 1956. At those Olympics, he was involved in a close-run final race in the 400m competition, where he was placed fourth.
Singh had beaten all the leading contenders other than Otis Davis, and a medal had been anticipated because of his good form. However, he made an error when leading the race at 250m, slowing down in the belief that his pace could not be sustained and looking round at his fellow competitors.
Singh believes that these errors caused him to lose his medal opportunity and they are his "worst memory". Davis, Carl Kaufmann and Malcolm Spence all passed him, and a photo-finish resulted.
Davis and Kaufman were both timed at a world-record breaking 44.9 seconds, while Spence and Singh went under the pre-Games Olympic record of 45.9 seconds, set in 1952 by George Rhoden and Herb McKenley, with times of 45.5 and 45.6 seconds, respectively.
The Age noted in 2006 that "Milkha Singh is the only Indian to have broken an Olympic track record.
Unfortunately he was the fourth man to do so in the same race" but the official Olympic report notes that Davis had already equalled the Rhoden/McKenley Olympic record in the quarter-finals and surpassed it with a time of 45.5 seconds in the semi-finals.
Education
Milkha Singh's early life was marked by the challenges of losing his family during the partition of India, but he found solace and purpose through sports. He attended various schools, but his focus on athletics did not allow him to pursue higher education in the traditional sense. However, he frequently emphasized the importance of education alongside sports, encouraging young athletes to strive for excellence both on and off the field.
Milkha became disenchanted with his life and considered becoming a dacoit but was instead persuaded by one of his brothers, Malkhan, to attempt recruitment to the Indian Army.
He successfully gained entrance on his fourth attempt, in 1951, and while stationed at the Electrical Mechanical Engineering Centre in Secunderabad and he was introduced to athletics.
He had run the 10km distance to and from school as a child and was selected by the army for special training in athletics after finishing sixth in a compulsory cross-country run for new recruits. Singh has acknowledged how the army introduced him to sport, saying that "I came from a remote village, I didn't know what running was, or the Olympics".
