Name of the sportsperson: Milkha Singh
Discipline: Athletics
State: Punjab
Date of Birth: 8 October 1935
Major Achievements:
- Won Gold medal - 1958 Asian Games in the 200 m and 400 m.
- Won Gold medal - 1962 Asian Games.
- Awarded Padma Shree in1959
Profile:
Milkha Singh also called as The Flying Singh, is the father of Jeev Milkha Singh, the golfer. He is considered as the greatest athlete of India.
Milkha Singh was born in a Rajput family in Lyallpur in Faislabad, which is now a part of Pakistan. He lost his parents during the partition when he was only 12 years.
Singh represented India for the first time in1956 Melbourne Olympics. He could not leave much mark during this event. But he acquired lot of experience and won his first gold medal in Cardiff, Wales, UK in the 1958 Commonwealth Games, It was this victory that made him a household name.
Milkha Singh during this time was invited to Pakistan for an event. In the race Milkha Singh destroyed his opposition and won easily. This feat earned him the nickname of Flying Sikh.
The best period of Milkha’s career as an Athlete was between the year 1958 and 1960. He won Gold Medals in both 200m and 400m events at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, clocking 21.6 seconds and 47 seconds respectively. At the 1958 Cardiff Commonwealth Games, he improved his 400m timing to 46.16 seconds, and grabbed a Gold Medal again. He thus became independent India's first gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games.
Milkha Singh now holds the appointment of Director of Sports in Punjab.
