'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh Dies Due To Post Covid Complications, Political Leaders Express Grief

Legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh died on Friday due to post-Covid complications.

Image: AFP

Chandigarh: India lost the legendary sprinter Milkha Singh on Friday night. The ace athlete was battling with Covid-19 related issues in a Chandigarh hospital. He was 91. Milkha Singh had tested positive for Covid-19 last month.

Singh's condition had turned critical on Friday evening as he developed complications, including fever and dropping of oxygen saturation level, after a bout with Covid-19.

The 91-year-old sprinter had been discharged from Fortis Hospital, Mohali in a 'stable condition' after battling COVID-19 on May 30. His family had requested to take him back home while his wife 82-year-old wife Nirmal Kaur had to be shifted to the ICU on the same day due to increased oxygen requirement. However, his condition worsened during his post-COVID recovery period and he had to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Chandigarh Hospital on June 3 due to "dipping levels of oxygen". 

After the death of the ‘Flying Sikh’, his family issued a statement. As quoted by ANI, the statement read, “It is with extreme sadness that we would like to inform you that Milkha Singh Ji passed away. He fought hard but God has his ways and it was perhaps true love and companionship that both our mother Nirmal ji & now Dad have passed away in a matter of 5 days.”

The last rites of Milkha Singh will be performed at 5 pm today. 

Prime Minister Modi expressed his grief on the death of the Flying Sikh and other leaders also expressed condolences:

Milkha Singh passed away 5 days after the demise of his wife Nirmal Milkha Singh.

The legendary athlete is a four-time Asian Games gold medallist and 1958 Commonwealth Games champion but his greatest performance was the fourth place finish in the 400m final of the 1960 Rome Olympics. His timing at the Italian capital remained the national record for 38 years till Paramjeet Singh broke it in 1998. He also represented India in the 1956 and 1964 Olympics and was bestowed the Padma Shri in 1959.