Ace golfer and late Milkha Singh's son Jeev Milkha Singh on Monday paid tribute to the sprint legend, who died of Covid-19 complications last week, saying he would need a lifetime of resilience to deal with the loss of his best friend, guide, and mentor. Milkha, one of independent India's biggest sporting icons, died here on Friday after battling the infection for a month. The 49-year-old Jeev said Father's Day on Sunday was "another sad reminder of what I've lost".

"Dad was much more than my father - he was my best friend, my guide, my mentor," Jeev, who was in Dubai when Milkha tested positive for COVID-19 and reached here in a couple of days to be with him, said in a tweet. "I hope I've the same resilience & inner strength to overcome all odds. I really need it now. And I will need it for the rest of my life," he added. Milkha was cremated here on Saturday evening with full state honours with Jeev lighting the pyre.