27 Facts About Prithipal Singh

Prithipal Singh was an Indian field hockey player who played as a halfback.

Prithipal Singh was a member of the Indian national team that won a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and silver and bronze at the 1960 Rome Olympics and bronze at the 1968 Mexico Olympics respectively.

Prithipal Singh was known for sharp reflexes, tremendous strength in his long and powerful arms produced firm and sticking shots which unfailingly fetched him goals and often the winners.

Prithipal Singh was born on 28 January 1932 in the city of Nankana Sahib, British India.

Prithipal Singh's father Sardar Wadhawa Singh Chandi was a school teacher and an agriculturist.

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Prithipal Singh spent his childhood in Nankana Sahib and took his early education there.

Prithipal Singh was to teach there later when the college amalgamated into the newly created Punjab Agricultural University.

Prithipal Singh excelled in his studies and won merit scholarships for academic excellence.

Between 1950 and 1954, Prithipal Singh represented his college hockey team four times and was appointed the captain of the team in 1955.

Prithipal Singh participated in the various national hockey tournaments from Punjab.

Prithipal Singh remained the top scorer in the Olympics and was judged the best full-back player.

Prithipal Singh represented Indian Wanderers Hockey in 1961 that toured New Zealand and Australia and participated in the 1962 Asian Games held in Indonesia.

Prithipal Singh resigned from Punjab Police in 1963 and joined the Indian Railways Police and started playing for their team.

Prithipal Singh was included in the Indian field hockey team headed for the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, which regained the Olympic title at Tokyo after defeating their arch-rival Pakistani team.

Prithipal Singh participated at the 1966 Asian Games held in Bangkok as a team member of the Shankar Laxman squad.

In 1967, Prithipal Singh skippered India against the visiting German and Dutch teams.

In 1968, Prithipal Singh was selected as the captain with Gurbakash Prithipal Singh as the joint captain for the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico.

In 1963, Prithipal Singh resigned from Punjab Police and joined the Indian Railways Police.

Prithipal Singh was awarded the Railway Minister's Medal in 1965 for being the "Best Railway Sportsman".

Prithipal Singh was awarded the Padma Shri in 1967 by the Indian President Zakir Hussain for his meritorious contributions to world hockey.

Prithipal Singh retired from active hockey after the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Prithipal Singh was member of the National Institute of Sports, Patiala and member of the governing body of Lakshmibai College of Physical Education, Gwalior.

Prithipal Singh was appointed the Director of Sports at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana as well as the Director of Student Welfare in 1968.

Prithipal Singh had actively participated in all activities relating to Student Welfare till his death in 1983.

Many believe that Prithipal Singh coached the secrets of an iron grip and was the inspiration behind four times World Armwrestling champion and two times World Martial Arts Breaking champion Jay Ranade, when he worked for Prithipal Singh at the Punjab Agricultural University in weight lifting coaching.

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Prithipal Singh was shot dead by students in the campus of the Punjab Agricultural University on 20 May 1983 in Ludhiana.

Prithipal Singh is an Indian docudrama film about his life and achievements by Babita Puri.