Bhubaneswar: Legendary athlete Milkha Singh stated here Wednesday that he is hoping to see India win an athletics medal at the Olympics during his life time. Milkha himself had come close to achieving that feat when he finished fourth in the 400m at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
“We have won medals in wrestling, badminton and shooting at the Olympics. But an athletics medal has always eluded us since Independence. Both myself and Usha had come close to breaking the jinx,” Milkha stated during the Ekalabya Award function here Wednesday. “I sincerely want to see an Indian win an Olympic medal in athletics during my lifetime. That is my last wish,” he added.
Milkha’s story depicted in the movie ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ has become an inspirational narrative for many budding sportspersons.
“My age is not permitting me to travel anywhere. But since the release of the film, I get so many invitations and phone calls. However, due to my age I attend select programmes only to inspire the youngsters,” informed the legendary athlete. I sincerely want that budding talents work that much harder after seeing the movie on my life,” he added.
Milkha also took a walk down memory lane reminiscing about his association with Orissa. In 1957 he had broken the Asian record in the 400 metres at the Barabati Stadium tracks in Cuttack. He said that he had visited the venue Wednesday after 59 years.
“When I broke the record and found the story in different newspapers, I could not believe my feat then. I thought the track must be small here. So I could not sleep throughout the night. The nest day I measured the track in the wee hours of the morning and thank God found it to be right,” he informed.
Post News Network
