Welcoming the government's move to confer Bharat Ratna on Sachin Tendulkar, legendary athlete Milkha Singh today said the just-retired cricketer deserved the honour as he has been a role model of the youth in the country.
Milkha said that despite being such a phenomenally successful cricketer, Tendulkar remained grounded as a man of immense humility and that sets him apart from other great sportspersons.
"He (Tendulkar) has been a role model. I have met Sachin Tendulkar several times and whenever I see him, I was amazed at his humility. Despite his immense success as a sportsperson, he remained grounded. His success did not go into his head. That sets him apart (from other successful sportspersons)," Milkha, who missed out of on a bronze in the 400m race in 1960 Rome Olympics by a whisker, said.
He was speaking to reporters after a programme at the Genesis Global School here where he had an interaction with students on the topic 'No Pain No Gain'.
Milkha, however, said it would have been better had the government conferred the Bharat Ratna on hockey wizard Dhyan Chand before Tendulkar.
"I am happy that Tendulkar has been conferred the Bharat Ratna. But personally, I feel that Dhyan Chand should have been the first recipient as he was the one who put India on the international sporting map," said Milkha, who represented the country in three Olympics and won four gold medals in the Asian Games (in 1958 and 1962).
"Dhyan Chand should now be given the Bharat Ratna," he added.
Nonetheless, Milkha said that conferring the Bharat Ratna has opened the door for other sportspersons.
"After the Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar, now the door has been opened for other sportspersons. They can now aspire to win the country's highest civilian award," he said.
The 'Flying Sikh' even went step further, saying that sportspersons should henceforth be appointed as Governor and Ambassador.
