Chandigarh: Legendary athlete Milkha Singh still feels the pain of missing out of an Olympic medal five decades ago and says his one last dream is to see an Indian win an Olympic gold in athletics.
“My last desire before I leave this world is that I want an Indian boy or a girl win an Olympic gold medal for the country and for my sake. I failed to win it in Rome Olympics in 1960,” ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha said.
Milkha had clocked 45.60 seconds in 1960 Rome Olympics 400m race to finish fourth in a photo finish.
Milkha, who won gold in 1958 and 1962 Asian Games and is also the only Indian man to win an individual athletics gold in the Commonwealth Games, said the fact that no Indian has ever won an Olympic medal in athletics saddens him.
“Athletics is considered number one sport in the world, be it Olympics, Commonwealth or Asian Games. But since India gained Independence, only five reached the finals in athletics event and all failed to win a medal, myself including… I feel ashamed that after 1947 we produced a number of athletes, but failed to win any medal,” said Milkha.
He admitted that it would be difficult for India to win medals at this year’s Olympics, but held out hope for Krishna Poonia.
“I have some hope from Krishna Poonia and she may get a bronze. She won a gold in the Delhi Commonwealth Games,” he said. (PTI)