by SOM Sports Correspondent
India’s pride athlete Milkha Singh nicknamed the ‘Flying Sikh,’ has been our country’s flag-bearer by winning international acclaim with his performances in the Olympics, Asian, Commonwealth and International and National meets.
The Flying Sikh held centre stage with his brilliant performances in the International scene. In 1956-57, Milkha had just then started to make an impression in the National scene when he gave some splendid performances in the National meets.
In 1956-57, the Indian National Athletics camp was organised in Bangalore for the preparation of the Asian Championships. At the camp were National champion Makkan Singh, Milkha Singh and six other athletes.
As the camp was held in Bangalore, a trial was held at the Sampangi Stadium (now called Sree Kanteerava Stadium) cinder track. Mysore lad and 16- year-old youngster P.G. Sathyanarayana, a X std. student at Hardwicke High school, Mysore, who was a budding and upcoming athlete in the State, had gone for training to Bangalore under his coach C.M. Muthaiah.
His coach C.M. Muthaiah and then Karnataka State Athletic Association, Secretary, Chikkapapaiah, seeing this boy’s excellent performance asked him also to take the trials along with 7 other athletes.
Sathyanarayana, the 16-year- old lad was surprised with the call, but listened to his coach’s orders and agreed to take part in the trials. He was to run the 400m race as a time trial. The qualifying time for the selection to the Indian team was 49.00s. Sathyanarayana’s career best timing was also 49.00s.
Sathyanarayana’s coach told him that he was pitted against Milkha Singh (who was just making his mark in the National level) and asked him to give his best, to which Sathyanarayana replied, “Even if world champion Otis Davis is running with me, I am not worried, I will go all out and give my best.” Such was his confidence level. When Milkha Singh arrived on to the lane, he asked Sathyanarayana in Hindi ‘Kounsi Lane Chahiye?’ to which the soft spoken Sathyanarayana said “any lane.”
The Race of his life
Milkha was allotted the second lane and Sathyanarayana took the first lane. The race turned out be a historic one in Sathyanarayana’s life which he and the spectators who had assembled at the stadium couldn’t forget.
The race started and both the athletes busted off the blocks and ran at a good pace, matching each other’s strides meter-to-meter. The first curve saw both of them at a very close distance and up to the last 100m both were on equal terms.
Sathyanarayana with his excellent strides matched Milkha Singh stride by stride and kept everyone at awe with his performance, matching the great Sikh and also threatening to beat him. The last 75m, both were running together, with Milkha murmuring “Sala Bhagh Raha Hai.”
The last 25m of the race was nail-biting and it saw the Flying Sikh sprint like a cheetah and he beat the youngster to emerge as the winner, with Sathyanarayana finishing not far behind. Both Milkha Singh and Sathyanarayana qualified with timings of 47:00s and 47:09s respectively.
Sathyanarayana’s coach C. M. Muthaiah, who was the time keeper came and hugged him and informed him about his qualification. After the race was over Milkha Singh kept staring at this youngster who ran a great race and matched him step-by-step.
Sathyanarayana was overjoyed with his performance and was informed by the then Karnataka State Athletic Association Secretary, Chikkapapaiah, that he has been selected for the Indian camp to be held at Patiala, and has to come and confirm his availability by next week.
Sathyanarayana, was encouraged a lot by his school Principal Sanath Kumar. He was to appear for the SSLC exams that year. His mother late. Kamalamma, wanted him to concentrate on studies and asked him to forego the camp. His father late. P Ganapathy supported P.G. Sathyanarayana and told him that it is a rare opportunity and asked him to utilise it.
Ultimately, Sathyanarayana decided to concentrate on studies and did not attend the camp. I A great opportunity lost for this Mysore lad. Who knows? He could also have worn the India colours, but it was not to be, it was destiny. It was a missed opportunity, which Sathyanarayana repents till date.
About P.G.Sathyanarayana P.G. Sathyanarayana, 75, is a resident at Chamaraja Mohalla. Born to P.Ganapathy and Kamalamma, he had three brothers. His inclination towards athletics was encouraged by his elder brother P.G.Govindaraj who was also his first coach.
He represented Hardwicke High school, Mysore in the Subbakrishna Memorial Middle School City-level Athletic meets and emerged champion in the 100m and Long Jump events. In the High School level, he took part in the Silver Jubilee Inter- School Sports meet in 1954-56 and won medals.
He used to visit Bangalore once in a week and take tips and work out schedules from his coach C.M. Muthaiah. In Mysore, he trained under the supervision of Ambareesh. He was also helped by Lakshman Rao Jagtap ( Railway athlete).
Sathyanarayana joined D. Banumiah’s College for his PU. After PU, during his degree course at Yuvaraja’s College, he got a job at P & T, Mysore on Sports Quota in 1961 and discontinued his studies. He represented Mysore State from 1957 to 1963. He married Nirmala in 1968 and has three children.
Sathyanarayana retired as a Post Master from Devaraja Mohalla Post Office in 1996.
He is happy with his achievement in athletics, but still rues the lost opportunity of representing the country.
He took up to officiating in athletics in 1975-76 and has officiated in State, National and International athletic meets. He competed in the Veteran’s Athletic meet in 1990 in the 45-plus group and won medals. He took up to administration and is presently the Hon. Secretary of the Mysore District Masters Athletic Association.
Memories do not die and many people who watched him in action will not forget the great race he ran at the Sampangi Indoor stadium. We salute this feat of his and wish that youngsters take the cue and upstage such feats in the days to come.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / November 08th, 2013