Still feel the void, emotional Jeev remembers parents at prayer meet

Chandigarh: The deaths of legendary sprinter Milkha Singh and his wife, former national volleyball team captain Nirmal Kaur in a span of five days last year, due to post-Covid complications, left a huge void in Indian sports.
On Sunday, the couple’s son and seasoned golfer Jeev Milkha Singh along with other family members held a prayer meet in the city to pay their tributes to the Flying Sikh and his better half ahead of their first death anniversary next month.People from all walks of life attended the prayer meet in memory of the legendary couple.
“Everybody feels about the parents in the same way like we do. We still feel the void and can't believe that they are not there with us anymore,” an emotional Jeev said.
“I would like to share an experience with you which I have realised now, with age and experience. My parents have been my biggest support and critics, the most important thing they taught us (referring to his siblings) to be humble,” added the Padma Shri awardee golf legend.
He further said, “I am blessed to be born in the Milkha family.”
Milkha (91) breathed his last at the PGI hospital here on June 19 after battling with the deadly virus for a month. The Padma Shri awardee had contracted Covid-19 on May 19. His death came as a double blow to the family, yet to come to terms with the demise of the 85-year-old Nirmal Kaur, in the same week.
The four-time Asian Games medallist has left a legacy that many Indian athletes can only match in their dreams. One of the country’s greatest athletes and a man of many firsts, the Padma Shri recipient won independent India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medal and Olympic-final berth.
A legend despite missing a podium finish by 0.1 seconds in the 400-metre dash at the Rome Olympics in 1960, pipped by South African nemesis Malcolm Spence (45.5), Milkha passed away merely a month before javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra fulfilled his long-standing dream of an Indian athlete finishing at an Olympic podium.
Chopra, who had hurled the javelin to a distance of 87.58m to clinch the gold in Tokyo, later dedicated his medal to the legendary sprinter.