Rumours put to rest, PGI doctors say Milkha’s health improving

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5

Legendary athlete Milkha Singh, who is being treated for post-Covid complications at the PGI, is improving and “better than yesterday”.

Medicos get clicked with legend

As sports lovers dealt with the rumours surrounding Milkha’s death, inside the hospital the athlete reportedly obliged the doctors and attendants by getting clicked with them. “He is in good spirits and eager to go back to his normal routine. He’s a legend and the insiders (people of hospital) are interacting with him and even clicking photographs. The social media is full of such pictures,” said a senior doctor. “The family is already going through a lot. In such a scenario, everyone should act responsibly,” the doctor added.

Capt Amarinder tweets

Spoke to @JeevMilkhaSingh son of ‘Flying Sikh’ & national icon Milkha Singh Ji to enquire about the condition of his father who is admitted in ICU due to #Covid 19. Conveyed my best wishes to him for his speedy recovery. All of us in Punjab are praying for his well-being.

“On the basis of all medical parameters, his (Milkha Singh) condition is better than yesterday,” read a medical bulletin issued by the PGI on the health of the former sprinter.

Milkha Singh was earlier treated for Covid-19 at a private hospital in Mohali and was admitted to the PGI following some complications on June 3. “He is being closely monitored by a team of three doctors at the PGI,” the bulletin added.

Earlier in the day, rumours about Milkha’s death spread like a wildfire on social media forcing PGI Director Dr Jagat Ram to issue a video message on his health.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju also took to social media to put an end to the rumours. “Please don’t run false news and create rumours about the legendary athlete. He is stable and let’s pray for his recovery,” tweeted Rijiju.

Milkha Singh’s family also requested people to ignore the rumours. “Milkha Singh is stable and doing well. But he is on oxygen support. Please ignore the rumpus. It is false news,” said star golfer and Milkha’s son Jeev Milkha Singh. It is not for the first time when rumours about Milkha’s death have surfaced on social media. In 2017, when AG Milkha Singh (75), who played four Tests for India, died, people mistook him as the sprinter and started writing obituaries, only to realise later that it was the Tamil Nadu cricketer who had passed away.

Nirmal remains stable

The condition of Nirmal Milkha Singh, former captain of India women’s volleyball team and wife of Milkha Singh, who is being treated for Covid at a Mohali hospital, is reportedly stable. “Nirmal Milkha Singh continues to be stable,” read a medical bulletin issued by the hospital.