Dharmendra had love for hockey

Legendary actor Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday, had a deep love for hockey, recalled Surjit Hockey Society general secretary and sports promoter Surinder Singh Bhapa.

Bhapa shared that Dharmendra had a special bond with the late Olympian Surjit Singh Randhawa. When the Surjit Hockey Society was formed in 1984 in Randhawa’s memory, the first-ever contribution of Rs 5,000 came from Dharmendra.

He added that the veteran actor frequently attended the Surjit hockey tournament and sent video messages, urging people to come forward and support the event. Dharmendra’s heartfelt connection with Punjab and its sporting spirit was widely admired by sports lovers across the region.

Expressing profound grief over Dharmendra’s demise, office-bearers and members of the Surjit Hockey Society said his death was an irreparable loss not only to Bollywood, but also to Punjab, which has lost one of its most cherished and illustrious sons.