Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 6

Even if the Milkha couple is no more, the players adopted by the Milkha Charitable Trust will continue to get the promised support, said their son Jeev Milkha Singh.

Jeev, the winner of six Asian Tour titles, four European Tour titles and four Japan Tour titles, said the players adopted by his parents would continue to get support for building their career. Both Milkha Singh and Nirmal Milkha Singh were known philanthropists, who would support meritorious players from poor financial backgrounds in living their dream of becoming a successful sportsperson.

“Yes, we will take care of them, my parents (Milkha couple) wishes will be fulfilled,” said Jeev. Last year only, the couple had promised full support to hockey player Harpreet Singh, one of the top goal scorers for Khelo India, after he was found working as a labourer. The couple was taking care of another player Chanjeet, a para-skater from Jammu & Kashmir, and many others.

“This is one of the biggest losses of my life. I had promised them to represent the country. It’s sad that they won’t be there to see me, but one day, I will surely make them proud,” said Harpreet.

Founded in May 2002, the Milkha Charitable Trust aims to promote sports among villagers by providing them with free equipment. It works with the underprivileged youth, who are deprived of basic opportunities required to build their careers. Last month, one of the famous couples of India—Milkha Singh and Nirmal Milkha Singh— breathed their last in a gap of just five days. While the former Indian sprinter Milkha Singh succumbed to the post-Covid complications, his wife Nirmal, former skipper of the Indian volleyball team, lost her battle to Covid at a private hospital.