‘His legacy will live on’ - Indian sporting icons pay homage to Milkha Singh

The Indian sporting fraternity paid tribute to Indian sprint legend Milkha Singh after the three-time Olympian died due to COVID-19 late Friday night.

The Flying Sikh, as Milkha Singh was popularly known, was battling the novel coronavirus for a month. He died at the medical facility in Chandigarh. Milkha's wife Nirmal Kaur, a national volleyball player, died earlier in the week of COVID complications.

Tributes poured in on social media for the sporting icon, who was a four-time Asian Games gold medallist.

Young Indian sprinter Hima Das recalled Milkha Singh’s congratulatory message when she won the 400m gold at the 2018 world under-20 championships.

“After winning world championship U-20 title and medal in Asian Games, I still remember a call from Milkha Singh sir that ‘Hima just keep on working hard, you have ample time and you can win a gold medal for our country at a global level,’ I will try to fulfil your dream sir,” Hima Das tweeted.

Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar, who played the role of Milkha Singh in his biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, penned a heartfelt note for the running great.

“A part of me is still refusing to accept that you are no more. Maybe it’s the stubborn side I inherited from you.. the side that when it sets its mind on something, just never gives up,” the actor said.

Farhan Akhtar called him a ‘constant inspiration and a reminder of humility in success’.

“And the truth is that you will always be alive,” Farhan Akhtar added. “Because you were more than a large-hearted, loving, warm, down to earth man.

Sprinter Dutee Chand touched upon how relatable Milkha Singh was and hailed his achievements during a time when sports rarely headlined in the country.

“His life was also full of struggles,” Dutee Chand told the News18 website. “His biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag I have seen it five-six times. I can see some similarities between his struggles and mine. Didn’t have proper diet, no track to run. Whatever hurdles I faced, he has faced them too. Can only imagine the hardships he had to go through and overcome to become what he did eventually. His life has been an inspiration to me."

Milkha Singh achievements include being the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. He also came within a photo finish of clinching a medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, missing out on a bronze medal by just 0.1 seconds.

“His performance in (Rome) Olympics is the stuff of legends,” Dutee pointed out. “We keep on complaining about unavailability of coaches, tracks and what not but at a time when it was hard to find proper running shoes and one used to practice barefoot, Milkha made it to the Olympics. That’s the biggest thing."

Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri also paid respect. “We may not have seen you compete, but every time we ran fast as kids, we ran 'like Milkha Singh'. And for me, that will always be the legend you leave behind. You didn't just run, you inspired. Rest in peace, sir,” the footballer wrote on Twitter.

Indian boxing queen MC Mary Kom, Abhinav Bindra, the only Indian to win an individual Olympic gold, and 2012 London Games bronze medallist Saina Nehwal also paid homage to the running great.

Milkha Singh will be cremated on Saturday in Chandigarh with full state honours.