Varinder Singh (1947-2022) was an Indian hockey player. He is famous for helping the Indian men’s hockey team achieve some memorable victories in the 1970s. In 1975, he won the Hockey World Cup with the Indian team. He died on June 28, 2022, in a hospital in Jalandhar, Punjab.
Wiki/Biography
Varinder Singh was born on Friday, 16 May 1947, in Dhannowali village, Jalandhar, Jalandhar, Punjab, India (then British India) (age 75; as of 2022). His zodiac sign is Taurus. Valinder has been interested in sports since he was a child and started training for hockey at a very young age.
Old photos of Varinder Singh
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′3″
Weight (approximately): 60 kg
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: brown
family
He was born into a Sikh family. Not much is known about his parents and siblings.
Profession
domestic hockey
Varinder Singh was recruited into the Indian Railways hockey team in the 1960s. During his tenure with Railways, he worked alongside the likes of Balbir Singh Randhawa and 1964 Olympic gold medalist Harbinder Singh.
Varinder Singh during National Hockey Championship
He competed against Punjab’s Harcharan Singh (1972 Munich Olympics bronze medalist) in many national and other big tournaments. He was also scheduled to compete against 1968 Mexico Olympics bronze medalist Balbir Singh Kular of the Services Team. In an interview, Khacharan while recalling his domestic matchup with Varinder said,
Varinder will be one of the best right-wingers in India and I will be considered one of the best left-wingers in India. It will be a duel between us during tournaments like the National Championship and the Nehru Gold Trophy. “
Varinder Singh (left) and Khacharan Singh fight for the ball during the 1970 Nehru Gold Cup final
international hockey
Varinder began his international hockey career by representing India at the Munich Olympics in 1972; he was selected as Kullar’s substitute for the Olympics. He was part of many memorable victories of the Indian team in the 1970s. He represented India in the 1974 and 1978 Asian Games. The Indian men’s hockey team won silver medals in both matches. A two-time Olympian, Varinder represented India at the 1975 Montreal Olympics (hockey) and the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1975, he became an important member of the only Indian hockey team to win the World Cup; in the 1975 Hockey World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Indian men’s hockey team defeated their old rival Pakistan 2-1.
1975 World Cup Champion Indian Hockey Team
During the World Cup, Varinder played a key role in India’s must-win 3-1 victory over Germany.
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 retiring from the Indian men’s hockey team, Varinder worked as a coach in several hockey training institutes. He worked with Punjab and Sindh Bank Hockey teams as a coach for over eight years. From 2008 to 2021, he worked as a hockey coach in the Punjab Sports Department. In 2021, Varinder joined Lyallpur Khalsa Women’s College in Jalandhar as a hockey coach. He also trains students at the Circle Glass Hockey Academy in Jalandhar.
Varinder Singh with hockey players of Lyallpur Khalsa Girls College, Jalandhar
die
Varinder Singh passed away on June 28, 2022, in a hospital in Jalandhar. He was 75 years old. His sudden death has left the entire Hockey Federation of India in deep shock. In a press release, the Hockey Federation of India mourned the passing of Varinder Sing, saying:
Varinder Singh’s achievements will be remembered by the hockey community around the world. “
Hockey India also expressed its condolences through a tweet, which read:
In view of the unfortunate demise of the great hockey player Shri Varinder Singh, we pray to the Almighty God to grant eternal rest to the departed soul and give the family the courage to bear this irreparable loss. “
Hockey India post in memory of Varinder Singh
Avtar Singh, coach of Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar, in a media chat mourning the death of the hockey coach said:
This is a huge loss for Indian hockey as well as Punjab Hockey. Varinder Singh, along with Krishnamurty Perumal, was one of the country’s best right-midfielders in the 1970s and after retiring, he ensured his connection to the sport through coaching keep in touch. After coaching the Punjab and Sind Bank hockey teams for over eight years, he has been coaching in the Punjab sports department since 2008 and joined a private academy last year. “
His students and colleagues remember him fondly as a humble, down-to-earth and punctual good man. Recalling his death, Punjab Hockey Office Secretary Kulbir Saini said:
I have never met anyone as punctual as him. Whenever he trains young players, I sit and watch and learn from him. When he’s around, I prefer to just look at the teaching style. “
His funeral was held on June 28, 2022, in Dhannowali, his hometown in Jalandhar. India’s budding hockey players raised their hockey sticks to pay tribute to him at the crematorium before his last rites were performed.
India’s budding hockey players pay tribute to Varinder Singh at his crematorium in Dhannowalli, Jalandhar
medal
Olympic Games
- 1972 Munich Summer Olympics Bronze Medal
hockey world cup
- 1973 Men’s Hockey World Cup Amsterdam Silver Medal
- 1975 Kuala Lumpur Men’s Hockey World Cup Gold Medal
Asian Games
- 1974 Tehran Asian Games Silver Medal
- 1978 Bangkok Asian Games Silver Medal
Facts/Trivia
- Varinder Singh is considered to be one of the best right forward hockey players in India during the 1970s.
- In 2007, the then President of India Pratibha Patil awarded him the prestigious Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to Indian hockey.
Varinder Singh receives Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award
- Sports whistleblower Iqbal Singh Sandhu shared an interesting anecdote in an interview, saying:
Once there was a match between the Indian hockey team and the Australian team. Due to Wallinder’s diminutive stature, he heard Australian players comment on his height, calling him a “little guy”. After that, he started playing, dodging the ball for several minutes and driving them (Australian players) crazy. Players later said he was a “dangerous man”. Varinder Singh himself tells us this. “
- A few days before his death, he traveled 8 kilometers on his motorcycle to train hockey students. National level hockey player Jasdeep Kaur, who is being trained by Singh, speaking about the matter in a media chat said,
How could someone his age train non-stop for 8 kilometers on a scooter in such hot weather? He would arrive 15 minutes earlier than the actual training time. This is a life lesson that I think I will always follow. “
- Apparently, he trained Tokyo Olympian Gurjit Kaur. Gurjit scored many goals in the Olympics.
- In an interview, while sharing how he motivates his students, one of his students said:
Kade vi eh nahee kehna, ki main thak gayi, nai te kal vi usi mann naal aaoge (After practice, don’t say I’m tired, because it will affect your mood, come back next time) “Same mentality. Always It’s saying I’m healthy, I love practicing and I’m going to do it again tomorrow and only then can you perform well.”
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education