Ex-Olympians’ kin cherish 1975 hockey win

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 16

“It was such a memorable day for me. I was standing on such a big stage for my brother’s achievements,” Satta Satpal, brother of Olympian Mohinder Munshi, expressed his feelings as he attended the 50th anniversary of the 1975 hockey World Cup win in New Delhi on Saturday.

He, however, also wished that his brother must be conferred with Dhyanchand Award and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award. “Getting an honour from Hockey India is something I will always cherish. But as my brother was in the team that won the gold medal, he must be given an award,” he added.

Four players of the great team that won the historic gold medal belonged to Jalandhar— Ajit Pal Singh (captain of the team), Onkar Singh, Mohinder Munshi and Onkar Singh.

Families of Mohinder Munshi and Varinder Singh attended the event with emotions.

Gurpreet Singh and Harpreet Singh, sons of Varinder Singh, who are also hockey players, missed the presence of their father. “Whatever we are today, whoever we have become, it’s all because of my father’s teachings,” said Gurpreet Singh even as he couldn’t complete the sentence, his voice getting choked as he remembered his father.

Varinder Singh was considered among the best players in the right half position. He is not only remembered as a hockey legend, but also as a great human being who had a positive approach towards life.

“He was always away from negativity and negative thinking. He would teach us to keep a positive mindset even if the circumstances were not favourable,” Harpreet Singh, the younger son, told The Tribune.

Harpreet Singh attended the event with his mother.

The Olympian was the recipient of Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement. Varinder Singh was coaching girls at Lyalpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar. After his death, his students felt his absence badly.

Captain of the 1975 hockey World Cup winning Indian team and Padma Shri awardee Olympian Ajit Pal Singh, who now resides in Delhi, belongs to Sansarpur, Jalandhar.

“That year and time will always be in my memory. Unfortunately, there are a few players from our team who are not with us now. We miss them,” he told The Tribune over the phone.