Legendary Sprinter Milkha Singh Tests Positive For Coronavirus

<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> Legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation at his Chandigarh residence. The 91-year-old, popularly known as Flying Sikh, is asymptomatic and claims to be in "high spirits'".</p> <p>"A couple of our helpers earlier tested positive and so all the family members did the tests. Only I returned positive on Wednesday and I am surprised," Milkha told PTI.</p> <p>"I am fine and there is no fever or cough. My doctor told me I will be alright in three-four days. I did jogging just yesterday. I am in high spirits," he added.</p> <p>None of the other family members, including Milkha's wife Nirmal Kaur, a former India volleyball captain, returned a positive test.</p> <p>"I have been telling people that doing physical exercise and remaining healthy is very important during this COVID times. I am 91 but I have been doing exercise regularly," Milkha said.</p> <p>"I have been keeping indoors except for this morning jogging and exercise. Though I was surprised to test positive, I hope to get over it soon."</p> <p>Milkha's son and ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh is in Dubai and said he would be returning to the country this week itself.</p> <p>"I will be flying back home on Saturday," said Jeev.</p> <p>"I have also undergone COVID test here, which is mandatory for travel and the report will come on Friday," he added.</p> <p>Nirmal Kaur said that Milkha was checked by PGIMER doctors and they have given requisite medicines.</p> <p>About her husband contracting the infection, she said, "a cook, who had been with the family for the last 50 years, reported high fever a few days ago."</p> <p>"He used to mostly stay here, but occasionally he used to go to his village Kishangarh here. A few days ago he told our driver to check his temperature and he found him running a high fever.</p> <p>"He had concealed from us that he had been running a fever for the past few days. He was sent home and tested positive," she said.</p> <p>She said a couple of days before Milkha's COVID test was done, he had told her about feeling slight weakness.</p> <p>"This was the first time in my life that he had complained of weakness and body ache," she said.</p> <p>The legendary athlete is a four-time Asian Games gold medallist and 1958 Commonwealth Games champion but his greatest performance was the fourth place finish in the 400m final of the 1960 Rome Olympics.</p> <p>His timing at the Italian capital remained the national record for 38 years till Paramjeet Singh broke it in 1998.</p> <p>He also represented India in the 1956 and 1964 Olympics and was bestowed the Padma Shri in 1959.</p>

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