The Flying Sikh, Legend Milkha Singh Dies at 91 After Lengthy Battle With COVID-19

 Sprint Legend Milkha Singh, 91, Dies After Lengthy Battle With COVID-19

A Padma Shri awardee, who was nicknamed 'The Flying Sikh' is survived by his golfer son Jeev Milkha Singh and three daughters.

One of India's most iconic sports icons, legendary runner Milkha Singh, died Friday after a month-long battle with COVID-19. (More Sports News)

The Padma Shri Award winner, nicknamed 'The Flying Sikh' for her accomplishments, was 91 years old and is survived by her golf course son Jev Milkha Singh and three daughters. During this time Milkha also lost his wife Nirmal Kaur, the former national volleyball captain, due to a similar illness.
(ads2)
"With great sadness we would like to inform you that Milkha Singh Ji passed away at 11:30 pm on June 18, 2021," reads a family statement.

"He fought hard but God has his ways and maybe it was true love and friendship that both our mother Nirmal ji now and my father passed away in five days," he added.

Her condition worsened in the evening as she developed complications, including fever and high oxygen levels, after an outbreak of COVID-19, in the Intensive Care Unit of PGIMER Hospital here.

"We are deeply indebted to the PGI doctors for their heroic and loving efforts and prayers that we have received from all over the world and for you," the family said.

PGIMER also issued a statement expressing its sadness.

"... despite the efforts of the medical team, Milkha Singh ji was unable to recover and after a brave fight, she went to heaven at 11:30 pm," the hospital said.

PGIMER Director Prof Jagat Ram said Milkha "will be remembered for his outstanding achievements on and off the field and for his lovable personality and personality."
(ads1)
Milkha had received COVID-19 last month and was tested for the virus on Wednesday when she was transferred to a regular ICU at another hospital.

He had been "stable" before Thursday evening.

Milkha's 85-year-old wife Nirmal, who was also infected, died at a private hospital in Mohali on Sunday. The couple allegedly contracted the disease with domestic help.

Milkha was admitted to PGIMER on June 3 after her oxygen levels plummeted at home following treatment at Fortis Hospital in Mohali for a week.

 The legendary athlete is a winning Asian Games winner and a Commonwealth Games champion in 1958 but his outstanding performance remains in fourth place in the 1960s Roman Olympics final in 1960.

His time of 45.6 seconds in the Italian capital remained a national record for 38 years before Paramjeet Singh broke it in 1998.

He also represented India at the 1956 and 1964 Olympics and was awarded the iPadma Shri in 1959.

After being diagnosed with COVID-19 on May 19, Milkha lived alone in her home in Chandigarh until May 23 and was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali on May 24 as she continued to suffer from fever, body aches and loss of love.

His golfing son Jeev, who was in Dubai at the time, arrived here on May 22 and another daughter, Mona Milkha Singh, a doctor from the United States, also came here later.

The Fortis hospital had earlier diagnosed the couple with "COVID pneumonia".
While in Fortis, the couple reunited in the same room for a few days.

After being introduced to PGIMER earlier this month, Milkha had received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking about his health.

Modi, while congratulating Milkha on his death, recalled the conversation on Friday and said "I didn't know it was going to be our last conversation."

"With the passing of Shri Milkha Singh Ji, we have lost a great athlete, who took the nation's mind and had a special place in the hearts of many Indians.

"His inspiring personality is loved by millions. He is saddened by his passing," the Prime Minister said on Twitter.