Both Milkha Singh and P.T. Usha are celebrated figures in Indian athletics, not only for their achievements in the Asian Games but also for their remarkable performances at the Olympic Games. While they didn’t win medals, their near-misses left a lasting impact and continue to inspire Indian athletes.
Milkha Singh’s performance at the 1960 Rome Olympics remains one of the most iconic moments in Indian Olympic history, despite the fact that he narrowly missed out on a medal.
- Event: 400 meters
- Achievement: 4th place (4th position in the final)
- Time: 45.73 seconds (Indian national record at the time)
- Milkha Singh finished fourth in the 400m final, missing the bronze medal by just 0.1 seconds. He was one of the favorites for a medal, but the last few meters of the race saw him edged out by Otis Davis of the United States, who won the gold. Despite the disappointment of finishing just off the podium, Milkha’s performance at the 1960 Olympics made him a national hero and earned him the title of “The Flying Sikh.”
- His near-miss inspired future generations of athletes in India, and his legacy is remembered as a key moment in the history of Indian track and field.
P.T. Usha’s performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was another historic moment for Indian athletics, as she came within a whisker of winning a medal in the 400 meters hurdles.
- Event: 400 meters hurdles
- Achievement: 4th place (4th position in the final)
- Time: 55.42 seconds (her personal best at the time)
- P.T. Usha finished fourth in the 400m hurdles final, just 0.01 seconds behind the bronze medalist, Zola Budd of South Africa. It was an agonizing loss for Usha, who had hoped for a medal in her event. Her performance, however, was a historic achievement for Indian athletics, as it marked India’s first near-medal finish in the 400m hurdles at the Olympics.
- Usha’s incredible effort in the 1984 Olympics led to her being regarded as one of India’s greatest female athletes, and despite missing the medal, her performance garnered widespread admiration and paved the way for future Olympic contenders from India.
Both athletes made an indelible mark on Indian sports, and their near-medal finishes at the Olympic Games contributed to the rising popularity of track and field in India.
- Milkha Singh’s 1960 Rome Olympics performance helped establish him as one of the greatest sprinters in Indian history. His near-miss in the 400m was a defining moment that fueled the aspirations of generations of Indian athletes.
- P.T. Usha’s near-miss in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics solidified her place as a trailblazer for female athletes in India, especially in the hurdles and sprints. Her legacy remains an inspiration for women in Indian sports, encouraging many to dream of Olympic success.
Both Milkha Singh and P.T. Usha demonstrated extraordinary perseverance and excellence on the world stage, even though they fell short of a medal. Their stories of determination, hard work, and close competition continue to resonate in Indian sports culture.
