Prithipal Singh

Sports

Born: 28 January 1932

Died: 20 May 1983

He was an Indian field hockey player nicknamed the “King of short corner” by hockey commentators.
He participated in the Olympic field hockey three times and each time he scored the highest number of goals as a single player.
He was a player with sharp reflexes, and the tremendous strength in his long and powerful arms produced firmest and sticking shots which unfailingly fetched him goals and often the winners.
The Evening Post, New Zealand commented in 1961 that to face the fury of Prithipal’s hit is to risk one’s life.
Another author commented that if Arjuna was the Maharathi of the Mahabharata war, Prithipal was the Maharathi of the International Hockey game.
The first-ever Arjuna Award to a hockey player was conferred upon him in 1961, which was later followed by the Padma Shri in 1967.
He won Olympic medals in Rome (1960 silver), Tokyo (1964 gold) and Mexico (1968 bronze).
He retired from active hockey after 1968 after the Mexico Olympics.
For some time he was made chairman of the IHF selection committee.
In 1974, he was as an observer with the Indian Hockey team to Malaysia to participate in the Malaysian World cup Tournament.
The Indian team won the World Cup for India. Singh also was a member of the National Institute of Sports Patiala and also a member of the governing body of Lakshami Bai College of Physical Education Gwalior.
He was appointed the Director of Sports, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana as well as the Director of Student Welfare since 1968.
He had actively participated in all activities relating to Student Welfare until his death in 1983.
He was also the Director of Sports, PAU.