Varinder Singh (1947–2022) was an Indian field hockey player. He was known for being an integral part of some of the memorable victories achieved by the Indian men’s hockey team in the 1970s. In 1975, he was part of the Hockey World Cup-winning Indian team. On 28 June 2022, he breathed his last in a hospital in Jalandhar, Punjab.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Varinder Singh was born on Friday, 16 May 1947 (age 75 years; as of 2022) in Village Dhannowali, Jalandhar, Punjab (then-British Raj), India. His zodiac sign is Taurus. Varinder, who was inclined towards sports since a young age, started taking hockey training at an early age.
An old picture of Varinder Singh
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 3″
Weight (Approx): 60 Kgs
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye colour: brown
Family
He belonged to a Sikh family. There is not much information about his parents and siblings.
livelihood
domestic hockey
Varinder Singh was recruited to the Indian Railways hockey team in the 1960s. During his stint at Railways, he played alongside players like Balbir Singh Randhawa and 1964 Olympic gold medalist Harbinder Singh.
Varinder Singh during the National Hockey Tournament
In several national and other major tournaments, he was pitted against the Punjab team’s Harcharan Singh, the 1972 Munich Olympics bronze medalist. He was also forced to play against Balbir Singh Kular of the 1968 Mexico Olympics bronze medal-winning Services team. During an interview, Harcharan recalled his pairing with Varinder at the domestic level and said,
Varinder would go on to become one of India’s best right-halves and would be considered one of India’s best left-in-wingers. During tournaments like National and Nehru Gold Cup, it will be a duel between us.
Varinder Singh (left) fighting for the ball with Harcharan Singh during the Nehru Gold Cup final in 1970
international hockey
Varinder started his international hockey career at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he represented India; He was selected for the Olympics as a reserve for Kular. He was a part of many memorable victories of the Indian team in the 1970s. He played for Team India during the 1974 and 1978 Asian Games. The Indian men’s hockey team won silver medals in both the games. A two-time Olympian, Varinder represented India at the 1975 Montreal Olympics (hockey) and the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1975, he was an integral part of the only World Cup-winning Indian hockey team; The Indian men’s hockey team defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 2–1 in the final of the 1975 Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1975 World Cup winning Indian hockey team
During the World Cup, Varinder played a key role in India’s 3-1 win over Germany in the pool stage, a must-win match.
Varinder Singh (fourth from right) with other members of the Indian men’s hockey team that won the 1975 Hockey World Cup
hockey coach
After retirement from the Indian men’s hockey team, Varinder worked with some hockey training institutes as a coach. He was associated with the Punjab & Sindh Bank hockey team as a coach for more than eight years. From 2008 to 2021, he worked as a hockey coach in the Punjab Sports Department. In 2021, Varinder joined Lyallpur Khalsa College for Women, Jalandhar as a hockey coach. He was also training the students of Round Glass Hockey Academy, Jalandhar.
Varinder Singh with hockey players at Lyallpur Khalsa College for Women in Jalandhar
Death
Varinder Singh died on 28 June 2022 in a hospital in Jalandhar. His age was 75 years. His sudden demise came as a deep shock to the entire Indian Hockey Federation. The Indian Hockey Federation condoled the demise of Varinder Singh during a press release, saying,
Varinder Singh’s achievements will be remembered by the hockey fraternity around the world.
Hockey India also expressed its grief through a tweet, which read,
In the light of the tragic demise of the great hockey player Shri Varinder Singh, we pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul and grant strength to the family members to bear this irreparable loss.”
A post made by Hockey India in memory of Varinder Singh
Condoling the demise of the hockey coach, Surjeet Hockey Academy, Jalandhar coach Avtar Singh said while talking to the media,
This is a huge loss for Indian hockey as well as Punjab hockey. Varinder Singh was one of the best right-halves in the country in the 1970s along with Krishnamurthy Perumal and after retiring, he ensured that he remained in touch with the game through coaching. After coaching the Punjab and Sindh Bank hockey team for over eight years, he worked as a coach with the Punjab Sports Department since 2008 and had joined a private academy last year.
His students and colleagues remember him as a humble, down-to-earth person, punctual and a good human being. Remembering his demise, Hockey Punjab Office Secretary Kulbir Saini said,
I have never seen anyone as punctual as him. Whenever he trained the young players, I would often sit near him, watch and learn from him. When he was around, I just loved watching his teaching style.”
His funeral took place on 28 June 2022 at his native village Dhannowali in Jalandhar. Moments before his cremation, budding Indian hockey players paid tribute to him by raising their hockey sticks at the cremation ground.
Budding Indian hockey players pay tribute to Varinder Singh at the cremation ground in his native village Dhannowali in Jalandhar
medal
olympic games
- Bronze medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich
hockey world cup
- Silver medal at the 1973 Men’s Hockey World Cup in Amsterdam
- Gold medal at the 1975 Men’s Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur
asian games
- Silver medal at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran
- Silver Medal at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games
Facts/General Knowledge
- Varinder Singh was considered one of India’s best right-half hockey players during the 1970s.
- In 2007, the then President of India Pratibha Patil honored him with the prestigious Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian hockey.
Varinder Singh receiving Dhyanchand Lifetime Achievement Award
- During an interview, sports whistle blower Iqbal Singh Sandhu shared an interesting anecdote and said,
Once there was a match between the Indian hockey team and Australia. Since Varinder was short in stature, he heard Australian players commenting on his height that he was a ‘small man’. After this he started the game and kept dodging the ball for several minutes which drove them (Australian players) crazy. The players then said he was a ‘dangerous man’. Varinder Singh himself told us this.
- A few days before his death, he used to cover a distance of 8 km on his scooter to train hockey students. Talking about it in a media interaction, national level hockey player Jasdeep Kaur, who was being trained by Singh, said,
How can someone of his age come to train on his scooter to cover a distance of 8 km without stopping in such scorching heat? He would arrive 15 minutes before the actual training time. I think this is a life lesson that I will always follow.”
- Apparently, he trained Tokyo Olympian Gurjeet Kaur. Gurjeet had scored many goals in the Olympics.
- In an interview, while sharing how he used to inspire his students, one of his students said,
Kade vi eh nahi kehna, ki main thak gayi, nai te kal vi uske man naal aaoge (After the completion of the practice session, you should not say I am tired, as this will affect your mood and you will not be able to do it the next time) Will come) same mentality. Always say I am fit, I enjoy practicing and I will do it again tomorrow, only then will you be able to achieve excellence.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn