‘Penalty corner da badshah’ Olympian Surjit Singh remembered on birth anniversary

As the birth anniversary of Olympian Surjit Singh approaches on October 10, the legendary hockey player is being fondly remembered for his contribution to Indian hockey and his enduring legacy as the “Penalty corner da badshah” (The king of penalty corners).

Born on October 10, 1951, Surjit Singh began his illustrious hockey journey at the State College of Sports, Jalandhar, representing Guru Nanak Dev University and later playing for the Combined Indian Universities team as a deep defender.

He made his international debut at the 2nd World Cup Hockey Tournament held in Amsterdam in 1973. Surjit was a key member of the Indian team that clinched the historic title at the 3rd World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 1975—India’s first and only World Cup gold medal victory to date—under the captaincy of Ajit Pal Singh.

Surjit’s international career included appearances in the 1974 and 1978 Asian Games, the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games and the 5th World Cup Hockey Tournament. Recognised globally as one of the finest full-backs of his time, he was named to the World Hockey XI in 1973 and the All-Star Hockey XI in 1974. He was also the top scorer at the Esanda International Hockey Tournament in Perth and the 1978 Asian Games, known for his lethal precision and power in penalty corners.

Before returning to Punjab, Surjit Singh worked with Eastern Railway and Indian Airlines. He later joined the Punjab Police as an Inspector, dedicating his services to his home state.

Iqbal Singh Sandhu, CEO of the Surjit Hockey Society, recalled Surjit’s unmatched skill in penalty corners, noting that his powerful hits reached speeds of up to 120 km/h. “His presence on the field was like an iron wall in defence. He stood tall among the greatest full-backs of world hockey, rubbing shoulders with legends,” he said.

Beyond his playing career, Surjit Singh was a vocal advocate for the welfare of hockey players in India. He consistently demanded that hockey players be given equal respect, facilities and financial support as cricketers. To this end, he founded the Sportsmen’s Benefit Committee, dedicated to assisting retired and struggling hockey players.

Deeply moved by the plight of former Olympian Roop Singh, who died in poverty, Surjit pushed for the concept of benefit matches in hockey to financially support players in need. A benefit match was accordingly planned in his honour—an international fixture between India and Pakistan scheduled for January 4, 1984, at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Jalandhar. As preparations were underway and the city eagerly awaited the match, the fixture was postponed to January 6. On the day of the match, after a meeting with Pakistani officials at the Wagah border, Surjit Singh, along with Parshotam Panthe (Secretary of the Benefit Committee) and Ram Pratap (former athletics coach at Sports School, Jalandhar), was returning home when tragedy struck. Their vehicle met with a fatal accident that night. Surjit Singh and Prashotam Panthe lost their lives, turning what was meant to be a benefit match into a memorial event.

To honour his memory and preserve his contribution to Indian hockey, the Surjit Hockey Society was formed in 1984. The Society began organising the All India Surjit Memorial Hockey Tournament in Jalandhar, with the inaugural edition played at the Shri Guru Gobind Singh Stadium. Featuring top teams from across Northern India, the tournament has grown into a major annual fixture on the national hockey calendar.

In recognition of his contributions to Indian hockey, Surjit Singh was posthumously conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1998. Iqbal Singh Sandhu also informed that on January 7, a statue of Olympian Surjit Singh will be installed at the Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar, as a tribute to his remarkable legacy.