Government should hold itself accountable if India doesn't win medals: Milkha Singh

Milkha Singh backed Dhyan Chand to be awarded the Bharat Ratna first

Legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh has requested the Sports Ministry to create a time-bound plan for potential medal garnering athletes, prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Flying Sikh also asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to help create a shortlist of sportspersons, who are currently excelling in the international circuit.

During a media interaction, he said, “If I was a part of the Sports Ministry, I would ask serious internal questions about why we aren’t winning medals. There is talent there, but we have to put in more efforts to streamline. We also need to check whether we are providing enough facilities or not.”

He added, “Athletics should be compulsory in all schools as it can be used as a base to move to other sports. If the Sports Ministry wants other athletes to duplicate my Olympic result or better it, they must create a time-bound plan from the grass-root level. You have to plan each stage of one’s career. This can only be done with the help of the IOA.”

Singh stated that there was no lack of talent in India, they just needed a better platform. He said, “I strongly feel that athletes such as PT Usha, Anju Bobby George would have medalled, if they were given the correct facilities at the right age. As I said, if we aren’t winning medals after so long, the government needs to be held responsible. The onus is on IOA.”

Sachin deserved Bharat Ratna, but Dhyan Chand should have won it first: Singh

Speaking about the Bharat Ratna, Singh advocated Dhyan Chand’s winning the coveted award, ahead of any Indian sportsperson. He said, “There is no questioning the ability of sportsperson such as Sachin Tendulkar. He has brought several laurels to the country during his time and he is one of the finest sportspersons India has ever produced. However, Dhyan Chand’s success during his time and the prolific nature of his game should have seen him awarded the honour first.”

Singh, who won gold at the 1958 Commonwealth Games, asserted his aversion to the ‘awardwapsi’ bandwagon. He said, “I ran for my country, India acknowledged that and awarded me. Country comes first; hence I’m completely against this notion.”