Legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh has passed away at the age of 91.
The sad demise of the great man, also called ‘India’s flying Sikh’ has caused shock waves in the industry.
Singh and his late wife both had tested positive for COVID-19 since the month of May. On the 13th of June, Milkha Singh’s wife Nirmal Kaur had succumbed to COVID-19 and passed away at the age of 85. The pair have four children. Three daughters named Dr Mona Singh, Aleeza Grover, Sonia Sanwalka, and a son Jeev Milkha.
Yesterday, on the 18th of June at 11:30 pm, Singh breathed his last owing to coronavirus complications. Sourced from a report, the family says, “It is with extreme sadness that we would like to inform you that Milkha Singh Ji passed away at 11.30 pm on the 18th of June 2021. He fought hard but God has his ways and it was perhaps true love and companionship that both our mother Nirmal ji and now Dad have passed away in a matter of 5 days.”
Paying tribute, many Bollywood celebrities have taken to their social media accounts to remember the late athlete. Farhan Akhtar, who played the late Milkha Singh in the sports biographical film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, expressed his deep sorrow and condolences with an emotional tweet.
“Dear Milkha ji, 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 it’s mind on something, just never gives up. And the truth is that you will always be alive. Because you were more than a large hearted, loving, warm, down to earth man. You represented an idea. You represented a dream. You represented (to use your own words) how hard work, honesty and determination can lift a person off his knees and get him to touch the sky. You have touched all our lives. For those who know you as a father and a friend, it was a blessing. For those who didn’t as a constant source of inspiration and a reminder of humility in success. I love you with all my heart,” Farhan wrote.