A biography for Milkha Singhhasn’t been written yet.
“I am very happy that the doors have opened for sportspersons. But I think the first Bharat Ratna should have been given to Dhyan Chand because of what he has achieved.”
“Running had become such an obsession that even when asleep, I would run races in my dreams.”
“If Milkha Singh is known as the Flying Sikh in the whole world today, the credit goes to General Ayub and to Pakistan.”
“Rome rankles. It will always. I missed a certain medal.”
“Don't sell your country's pride for a few bucks.”
“I would push myself so much that in the end I would collapse and I would have to be admitted to hospital, I would pray to God to save me, promise that I would be more careful in future. And then I would do it all over again.”
“Not every school in India has athletics as a compulsory sport. They should make it compulsory.”
“I don't hanker after awards.”
“Dhyan Chand passed away long back but we should not forget what he has done for the country.”
“I have only seen movies of my generation - 'Mother India,' 'Shree 420,' 'Awaara.' Those days, we had actors such as Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar.”
“I could have joined politics during Nehru's or Indira Gandhi's time. I don't want to. I stay away from these things.”
“You have to be disciplined if you want to be world class.”
“A lot is expected from athletes but we need good coaches as well.”
“I have been telling people that doing physical exercise and remaining healthy is very important during this COVID times. I am 91 but I have been doing exercise regularly.”
“The fact is that children get spoiled in bad company.”
“Athletics talent is more prominent in the villages than in the urban areas because the main factor determining the difference is hard work which is an integral part of an athlete's training.”
“Whether it be a sage or a king, all have been borne by women.”
“Every morning I would rise at the crack of dawn and after the usual ablutions, would get into my sports kit and dash off to the track, where I would run two or three miles cross-country, in the company of my coach.”
“I wanted Jeev to become doctor or an engineer, but after seeing his talent and interest in golf, I dropped that idea.”
“Life is not decided by lines on a palm but by the power of the will, hard work and discipline.”