Nirmal Milkha Singh, the 85-year-old former captain of India’s volleyball team and wife of the legendary athlete Milkha Singh, died of Covid-19 on Sunday, her family said.
She tested positive for Covid-19 last month and has since been at Mohali’s Fortis Hospital. Statements from the hospital in the last few days showed her health had plummeted.
She died at 4 pm on Sunday, her family said.
The 92-year-old Flying Sikh Milkha Singh, who tested positive on May 25 last year—a day before his wife—was making improvements, a statement from Chandigarh’s Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, where he’s been admitted, said on Saturday. He is still in an Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.
A statement from the family said: “It is to inform you that Mrs Nirmal Milkha Singh passed away after a valiant battle against Covid at 4 pm today.”
“Former Director of Sports for Women in the Punjab Government and former Captain of the Indian Women’s National Volleyball Team, Nirmal ji fought a valiant battle till the very end.”
“A backbone of the Milkha Family, she was 85 years old. It is tragic that the Flying Sikh Milkha Singh ji could not attend the cremation which was conducted this evening itself as he is still in the ICU himself.”
“The family has expressed its grateful thanks to everyone for their solidarity and prayers right through the battle which gave them the strength to face it bravely.”
