Milkha Singh, who had examined optimistic for COVID-19 final month, died on Friday night time.
Iconic sprinter Milkha Singh, who died late final night time of COVID-19 issues, was cremated in Chandigarh on Saturday night with full state honours.Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Union Territory Administrator VP Singh Badnore and Haryana Sports Minister Sandeep Singh have been amongst these current on the cremation floor to bid a remaining adieu to the legend. His son and ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh lit the funeral pyre.
The Punjab authorities, earlier within the day, introduced a state vacation as a mark of respect to the Olympian. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh additionally introduced a Milkha Singh Chair at Sports University in Patiala in reminiscence of the nice athlete.
The Chief Minister, who had gone to the Padma Shri recipient’s Chandigarh residence, recalled the declaration of a nationwide vacation in 1960 when Milkha Singh defeated Pakistan champion Abdul Khaliq in Lahore. An emotional Amarinder Singh stated that he wished “he could have also declared a national holiday today”. “But Punjab would mourn the legend with a state holiday, with flags flying at half mast,” he added.
It was after the 1960 victory that then Pakistan President General Ayub Khan had nicknamed Milkha Singh as “Flying Sikh”, he stated.
Milkha Singh, who had examined optimistic for COVID-19 final month, died on Friday night time. He was in isolation at his house earlier than he was admitted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) hospital in Chandigarh on June 3 resulting from dipping oxygen ranges. Even although he examined adverse on Thursday, his situation deteriorated on Friday night. The former athlete was 91.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes for Mr Singh, writing that India had “lost a colossal sportsperson, who captured the nation’s imagination and had a special place in the hearts of countless Indians.”
The four-time Asian Games gold medallist had misplaced his spouse Nirmal Kaur, a former nationwide volleyball captain to the identical ailment. Mr Singh is survived by his golfer son Jeev Milkha Singh and three daughters.
