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Milkha Singh hospitalised with ‘covid pneumonia’, stable
The 91-year-old Milkha had been in home isolation at his Chandigarh residence after he tested positive for the virus on Wednesday. He has now been admitted to Fortis hospital in Mohali.
Four days after testing Covid-19 positive and going into home isolation, athletics legend Milkha Singh was admitted to Fortis hospital in Mohali on Monday. His son and ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh said it was a precautionary measure.
“He was weak and not eating well since yesterday, so we had to hospitalise him. We thought it is safer to have him admitted where he would be under supervision of senior doctors and recover well,” Jeev said.
In a statement, the hospital said: “Mr Milkha Singh was admitted at Fortis Hospital, Mohali in the Intensive Care Unit on 24th May 2021 with covid pneumonia. He is stable and presently on low-flow oxygen and medical management.”
The 91-year-old is said to have contracted the virus from a staff member his residence. Other family members tested negative while Milkha’s RT-PCR test came out positive. PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh) had provided a home attendant and oxygen facilities. Milkha had said wishes from fans and friends were keeping his spirits high.
Milkha Singh, regarded as the country’s greatest athlete, is the only Indian athlete to win an individual Commonwealth Games gold on the track, after claiming the 440 yards race at Cardiff in 1958. He has also won four Asian Games titles, including the 200-400 double in 1958 and the 400m in 1962.
His greatest performance was finishing fourth in the 400m final at the 1960 Rome Olympics, missing out on bronze by 1/10th of a second.
