Manjit Singh (athlete)

Manjit Singh (athlete) Biography

Manjit Singh is an Indian athlete and middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres event. In 2018 Asian Games at Jakarta, he created history by winning gold in the 800 metres event. This surprise win was well celebrated by Indian social media, and Manjit received congratulations from Indians across the globe. He finished just ahead of compatriot Jinson Johnson from India, who bagged the silver medal. He was at position 4 when he was complete 50 m, and finished the race at position 1 in 1 minute and 46.15 second surprising everyone. He is 31 years old now.

His full name is Manjit Singh Chahal. He was born on 1st September 1989. He hails from Haryana, born into a Sikh family. An unheralded runner from Haryana, he doesn’t have even a national gold medal to his credit. Now at age 30+, no one even imagined that this sprinter would win a gold at Asian games. The previous male athlete to win a gold in 800 meter event was Charles Borromeo in 1982 Asian Games. He was never considered a strong contender for Asian Games, and whole expectations were surrounding the athlete Jinson Johnson from Kerala to win a medal. When first two medals were won by Indians in Asiad, Indians celebrated the event. It’s only the second one-two finish in 800m after Ranjit Singh and Kulwant Singh won it in the first edition of Asian Games held in 1951.    

Manjit Singh who decided to hog the limelight trained under Amreesh Kumar from Indian army. Manjit is jobless, and he fully prepared for the event sparing full time in practice. He trained in Ooty for the last 1.5 years apart from 3 month training at Bhutan ahead of Asian games. He claimed his first major international medal at Guwahati with his personal best of 1:46:24s this year.

Published: August 30, 2018

Updated: August 30, 2018