Picture Credit: ICC
The members of the Indian cricket team are wearing black armbands to mourn the demise of legendary sprinter Milkha Singh at the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand. Notably, the 92-year-old passed away on Friday night due to COVID-19 related complications, five days after his wife passed away. He was admitted to the ICU of a private hospital due to “COVID pneumonia” in May before being moved to PGIMER in Chandigarh on June 3. The sprinter tested negative on Wednesday, however, his condition got severe on Friday including high fever and dipping oxygen saturation levels.
Following the demise of the national sporting hero’s legend, athletes from across disciplines have paid their tributes to him. And now Team India’s has also observed this gesture on the passing away of one of the finest track and field athletes from India.
Padma Shri among other honours Milkha Singh earned
Milkha received the Padma Shri award from the government of India for his outstanding contribution to the field of sport. He remains the only athlete ever to win a Gold medal in the 400m event at the Asian as well as the Commonwealth Games. Moreover, In the 1958 National Games, Milkha Singh won gold medals in both 200m and 400m events. He also famously finished at fourth place in the 400m finals at the 1960 Olympics and was often India’s sporting ambassador on the world stage. He was adoringly known as the “Flying Sikh.”