The ‘Flying Sikh’ Milka Singh takes pride in reminding that he raced against time and not against any individual.
“That’s how I always competed during my peak days across the world,” he says. And he is back in the city which he adores a lot. Reason? “I just cannot resist the temptation of saying yes to any invitation from this part of India. For it is here that my career took off more than 50 years ago at the EME Artillery Centre (Secunderabad). I always have great memories of this city,” exclaimed the 86-year-old Milkha Singh, who is here as brand ambassador for the annual Hyderabad 10K Marathon to be held on Sunday. And, not surprisingly, Milkha Singh visited the ‘hallowed venue’ which was actually named after him last year late on Saturday evening, rekindling memories of his golden past. It is apparent that he not only belongs to the old school of thought, but to that category which respects a performing individual. “I must say, thanks to the efforts of people like Gopichandji (India’s chief national coach Pullela Gopi Chand) that Hyderabad has the proud distinction of producing champions like Saina, Sindhu and Srikanth. Unless the coaches put in the desired hard work, the result will not be there,” he remarked. The great Indian athlete says he accepted to be the 10K Run brand ambassador for the second year in succession because he felt Hyderabad 10K Foundation is doing a good job. “I told them the last time to encourage the under-privileged champions. I am glad that they are doing,” he remarked. “I will appeal to them and to the government also to set up full-fledged academies and select the Adivasi kids and the talented from the lower strata of the society,” he said.
