Milkha Singh died at the age of 91 due to Covid-related complications in a Chandigarh hospital on June 18 and was cremated with full state honours on Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Milkha Singh died due to Covid-related complications in Chandigarh on June 18
• The Flying Sikh passed away just 5 days after his wife Nirmal Kaur breather her last due to the same illnes
• Milkha Singh was introduced to athletics while serving in the Indian Army

Ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh revealed on Monday that his late father, legendary sprinter Milkha Singh’s funeral procession got a salute from Army soldiers while the entire country bid a tearful adieu to the former athlete who put India on the global map in track and field.

Milkha Singh died at the age of 91 due to Covid-related complications in a Chandigarh hospital on June 18 and was cremated with full state honours on Saturday, marking the end of an era in which his pioneering accomplishments on the track galvanised a newly-independent India. His ashes were immersed by Jeev and other family members in the Sutlej River at Kiratpur Sahib on Sunday.

Milkha Singh, who was introduced to athletics while serving in the Indian Army, has run many memorable races during his career, despite not being able to win an Olympic medal.

“Today is Father’s Day – another sad reminder of what I’ve lost. Dad was much more than my father – he was my best friend, my guide, my mentor. I hope I’ve the same resilience & inner strength to overcome all odds. I really need it now. And I will need it for the rest of my life.

Somehow, I don’t remember much of Dad’s funeral procession, but one sight I will never forget. A military van coming to a stop and these soldiers getting out and giving dad the salute. The Milkha family has always been grateful of the Indian Army, and I want to thank them again.

“I lost my mom and dad. But what has been even more emotional is the thousands of messages we have been getting from people as if they have lost someone of their own. Thank you to all dad’s fans and well wishers for supporting us at this time,” Jeev Milkha Singh wrote in a series of tweets.

Milkha Singh breathed his last five days after his wife and former India volleyball captain Nirmal Kaur died due to Covid-19 ini Chandigarh. Milkha contracted the virus in May and was even discharged from a private hospital in Mohali later in the month.

However, he was readmitted to ICU of Covid Hospital PGIMER on June 3. His condition had improved upon admission but his oxygen saturation levels dipped before he passed away on Friday.

Milkha Singh was 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 at the 1960 Rome. He also represented India in the 1956 and 1964 Olympics and was bestowed the Padma Shri in 1959.