Makhan Singh (Indian athlete)

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Makhan Singh
Personal information
Full name	Makhan Singh
Date of birth	July 1, 1937(1937-07-01)
Place of birth	Bathulla, India
Date of death	January 21, 2002 (aged 64)
Place of death	Chabbewal, India
Stream	Sprint
Arjuna Award	1964
Achievements
Games	G - S - B
National Games	12 - 3 - 1

Makhan Singh (July 01, 1937 – January 21, 2002)^[1] was one of the illustrious Indian athletes during the 1960s. He was born in Bathulla village in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. He claimed to fame as a result of his famous victories over Milkha Singh in the 1964 National Games in Kolkata. He won a number of gold medals in National Games, and represented India in the 1962 Asian Games.

[edit] Career

His first taste of success was a Bronze in the National Games in Cuttack in 1959. He then hit the high spots with the National Games in Delhi the following year when he won a Cold in the short sprint and a Silver in the 300 metres. He was to continue with this success in subsequent National Games, winning a Gold and a Silver at Madras in 1960, 4 Gold at Jabalpur in 1962 and 2 Cold and one Silver at Trivandrurn in 1963. But his greatest triumph was the 1964 National Games in Calcutta where, apart from scoring a sensational win over Milkha, he picked up four Gold Medals for an impressive personal tally. He represented India in the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta where he won a relay gold in 4 x 400 metres and a Silver in the 400 metres.

For Makhan Singh, the artillery gunner, the National Games had Special significance. He took part in all the Games from 1959 to 1964 and won a total of 12 Gold, three Silver and one Bronze, the last one in Calcutta where he signed off being his most outing.^[2]

He was a Subedar in the Indian Army and retired in 1972. He later met with an accident, losing a leg. He died in 2002.

[edit] Notes