Milkha Singh is an Indian former track and field athlete, who has represented India internationally from 1956 to 1964. He is a sprinter and known as ‘the Flying Sikh’ for his impeccable running speed on the field.

He used to serve Indian Army when he introduced to this sport and instantly got attracted by it. Milkha Singh is the first Indian sprinter, who brought an individual gold medal for India at the Commonwealth as well as Asian Games Championships. He was born in a village of Pakistan, which was a part of British Indian at that time and became orphaned during the partition.

He used to live with his married sister in India since 1947 and enter the Indian Army in 1951. He took participate in a mandatory cross-country run during his first year and became sixth at that competition. After witnessing his talent, the army trainer encouraged him to pursue his career in track and field athletics.

He started his international sprinting career in 1956 with the Melbourne Olympics and appeared in the 200m & 400m events at that competition. In 1958 National Game of India, Milkha Singh started making a record and his winning trail ever since then. He has had a glorious track record in sprinting in most of the significant international championships but unfortunately couldn’t make it in the Olympics.

He began his career with the Olympics and end with this same edition in 1964 Summer Olympics as fourth. He is involved in several charitable actions to support poor emerging athletes of this country.

(as Compiled by Madhushree Das Ghosh)

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