Milkha Singh Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Wiki & More

After being orphaned in his childhood following the events after the partition of India, he moved to Delhi. He was persuaded by his brother and sister to join Indian Army service. Milkha Singh was successful in his fourth attempt and gained entrance in the year 1951. During his stay at the Electrical Mechanical Engineering Center, he found interest in athletics. During his selection into the army, he had run over 10km and was picked up by the service for athletic training. 

 

He represented the country at the 1956 Olympic Games Melbourne in 200m and 400m events. Later in 1958, he set records at the National Games of India 200m and 400m. Further, at Asian Games, he won the gold medal for 200m and 400m sprint events. He also bagged a gold medal in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in the 400m event where he finished within 46.6 seconds. He also emerged as the first ever Indian to win a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. 

 

He acquired his popular nickname ‘The Flying Sikh’ during his race in 1960. In the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games, he won Gold in the 400m event. Some reports suggest that Milkha Singh won 77 out of 80 races. 

 

After his success in 1958, he was promoted to a junior commissioned officer. Further, in 1998, he was appointed as the Director of Sports by the Punjab Ministry of Education. He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award by the Government of India. He was offered the Arjuna Award, but he turned down the offer.