Playing for India will always remain a dream: Olympian Malkiat Singh

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 18: “Though I was born and brought up in Uganda and even represented the country at the 1972 Olympics at Munich, I always remained an Indian by heart and had wished to have represented her in hockey at least once in my life,” said 68 years old Olympian Malkiat Singh Sondh who recently touched down the city to visit his ancestral roots.

While remembering the struggle of his father Didar Singh to bring him up to this level, Malkiat Singh said that he hails from village Jajan Kalan near Phillaur. “My father was travelling from Bombay to Africa during World War II when suddenly on November 23 in 1942 a torpedo shot by Japanese army hit his ship. Though around 1400 passengers died in the attack, my father and 400 others were rescued and brought back to Bombay after surviving for three days in the Indian Ocean,” said Sondh.

He said that later his father again took journey to Africa in 1948 and this time landed in a small town Jinja in Uganda. “I was born here and later took up hockey as a career,” said Sondh. He said that his father who was the President of the local Hockey club there used to invite Indian hockey team there for various tournaments.

“During that time, the Indian players used to stay with the Indian families in Uganda. Many players like Dhyan chand, Ajit pal, Balbir (railways) also used to stay with us and we as children used to play with the balls and hockeys left behind by these players,” said Sondh.

Later Sondh also got a chance to represent the country in national level tournament and he also represented Uganda in the Munich Olympics in 1972.

What according to him has caused the downfall of hockey in India? “I feel the indiscipline and the lack of sports facilities in India are the major cause of concern for the sports here,” said Sondh. He said that earlier players used to have a stick diet and fitness regime and also shared an outstanding relation with their coaches. “However now, the equation between players and coaches has gone haywire and parents too are putting more emphasis of nurturing their children in a plethora of luxuries rather them training them in tough terrain,” said the veteran player.

What does he value most in life? While pointing towards a nicely framed picture carrying a turban, a comb, glasses, Kirpan and Kara of his late father and also a rock from his native village Jajjan Kalan, he said, “The memories of my father is the most precious thing in my life and they always accompany me wherever I go in the world,” said Sondh.

Now settled in England, sports run in his family. According to his very close friend and Padam Shree Wrestler Kartar Singh Sondh has been blessed with a very large and talented family. “With four children and Sixteen grandchildren all living in a joint family, he has set an example for Indians as well who are now moving towards nuclear family system,” said Kartar Singh who had organized a lavish home coming for Malkiat Singh who returned after eight years to his native place to meet his old friends from sports and native village. The Olympian also gave away Rs 2 lakhs for the development of sports infrastructure at his village.

Any wish left to fulfil? “Though I have almost attained everything, I desired in life, the only regret I had is that I could not play for India. I feel sad to see the downfall of Indian hockey in the last few years. Though I wanted to play for India at least once in lifetime, I know it will remain a dream forever!,” signs off Sondh.

EOM