Olympian Shammi to head state women’s hockey selection panel

Hockey Punjab has appointed former Olympian Balwinder Singh Shammi as chairman of the selection committee for women’s hockey team. A resident of Amritsar, he is already a selector for Hockey India. He was made a member of the Hockey India selection committee in 2023.

Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli and general secretary Amrik Singh Puar said Shammi, a selector of Hockey India, has been appointed as chairman, selection committee for women’s hockey.

Shammi said the decision was taken during the annual meeting of Hockey Punjab held at Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar, in which the district hockey unit members of Hockey Punjab were present.

Shammi was appointed chairman of women’s hockey selection committee due to his achievements and expertise in selection. Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli said that Shammi has been given the responsibility of selecting all the women’s hockey teams of Punjab.

Shammi has been running an academy for hockey players in the holy city for the past two decades. His dedication towards the game and financial support by city philanthropists led to the establishment of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy. The Academy did wonders to hockey by proving to be a nursery for young players. It produced three Olympians — Shamsher Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Dilpreet Singh — and over 150 national players. Every year, the Academy imparts training to several youngsters.

During his seven-year-long eventful international career, Shammi played in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, the two World Cups — London, 1986, and Lahore, 1990. He also featured in the 1986 Asian Games and Asia Cups at Dhaka and Delhi. He is now a selector for

the Punjab hockey team and is also employed with the

Railways.

Talking to The Tribune, he said there was huge potential in youngsters from the Majha region, to excel in the game of hockey. There are several villages, including Attari, Mehta, Sathiala, Butala, Timowal, Marar, Pakharpura and Chahlan in the area, where hockey has been adopted as a folk culture. He felt that apart from a good sports environment in the city, players required excellent infrastructure and proper coaching.