Olympian Surjit Singh
Born on October 10, 1951, Surjit Singh played for State College of Sports, Jalandhar
under Guru Nanak Dev University and later for Combined Universities team as
deep defender. Surjit Singh made his international debut in the second World Cup
Hockey Tournament in Amsterdam in 1973. He was a member of the Indian team
which under the leadership of charismatic leader Ajit Pal Singh won the third World
Cup Hockey Tournament at Kuala Lumpur in 1975.
He also participated in the Fifth World Cup
Hockey Tournament, the 1974 and 1978
Asian Games, 1976 Montreal Olympic
Games Surjit Singh was acclaimed as one
of the best full backs in the world. In 1973
he was included in the World Hockey XI
Next year he was a member of the All-Star
Hockey XI. Surjit Singh was also the top
scorer-both in the Esanda International
hockey Tournament at Perth in Australia
and the 1978 Asian Games. During his
hockey career Surjit Singh was concerned
about player’s cause. Surjit Singh served
the Indian Airlines for a few years. Later he
joined the Punjab Police.
It was tragic that Surjit Singh, after his retirement from the game, died in a road
accident near Kartarpur in Jalandhar district. In Jalandhar, a hockey stadium is
named after him. A hockey academy named after him is also being run by the
Punjab Government. The society’s fine functioning has given such impetus to the
game in the region that bright and talented players are coming up in every age
group. What better tribute will be to Surjit Singh who always considered it a sacred
duty to fight for the cause of hockey and the players’ rights.
The hockey stadium in Jalandhar (Surjit Hockey Stadium) is named after him. A
hockey academy named after him is also being run by the Government of Punjab.
In 1984, after his death, the Surjit Hockey Society was established in Jalandhar, and
it organizes the annual Surjit Hockey Tournament in Jalandhar, every year. He was
posthumously awarded the Arjuna Award in 1998.
His wife Mrs. Chanchal Randhawa was also
international field hockey player, who led
India women’s national field hockey team in
the 1970s. His Son Mr. Sarbrinder Singh
Randhawa is a world-level Lawn Tennis
Player, who represented India in various
international tournaments across the world.
He is also an Asian Games Runners up which
were held in Indonesia.
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Olympian Surjit Singh