Countries where Sikhs have played or coached hockey

Aden

Baldev Singh (Royal Army Service Corps (which changed to Royal Corps of Transport in 1967) - British Army) played at the Military base in Aden in 1966-67.

Afghanistan

British Officers playing hockey while wearing topees against a Sikh Regiment comprising native Punjabis near Kyber Pass in 1904. (Sir Francis Younghusband expedition).

Photo courtesy of Michael Turnbull (Scotland).

Argentina

The 4th Men's Hockey World Cup was held at Campo del Polo grounds, Buenos Aires, Argentina from 18 March to 1 April 1978.

Hardial Singh Kular was a technical Judge at this tournament.

Paul 'Bubli' Singh Chohan; Sarbjit Singh Dusang; Paramjit Singh Bahia and Mohinder Pal Singh played for Canada.

Mohinder Singh Amar; Avtar Singh Gill and Updesh Singh Gill played for Malaysia.

Varinder Singh; Baldev Singh; Surinder Singh Sodhi and Sukhbir Singh Grewal played for India. Kartar Singh was India's Manager.

Australia

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Austria

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar and Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Vienna, Austria, 16 - 20 September 2010.

Photo courtesy of Tarlochan Singh Panesar

Bahrain

Baldev Singh (Royal Army Service Corps - British Army) played at the Military base in Bahrain in 1966.

Bangladesh

The Indian Men's team, captained by Gurjinder Singh, played a three match series with Bangladesh in Dhaka fro 6th - 9th August 2014 (team photo above).  

Pargat Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Hardeep Singh, Rajinder Singh and Balwinder Singh played for India in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the 2nd Asia Cup, January 20 - 28, 1985.

Barbados

Cardiff Hockey Club, who had five Sikh players in their squad, played in the Hockey Festival in Barbados in 1988.

In the above photo from the Festival in Barbados:
Kneeling - Mandeep Kaler (extreme left)
2^nd row - Channi Kaler (extreme right), Ravi Kaler (3^rd from right)
3^rd row - Mindy Kaler (3^rd from left)
Back row - Nunnie Sohanpal (3^rd from right), Satwant Bhandal (in the middle)

Belgium

India's Sandeep Singh; Raj Pal Singh; Damandeep Singh; Sardar Singh; Prabhjot Singh; Gurbaj Singh and Baljit Singh (G/K) played in Boom, Belgium at the Champions Challenge tournament, 22nd June to 1 July 2007.

Belize

Makand Singh (Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) - British Army) played for the British Forces in Belize - July 1987 - January 1988.

Bermuda

Canada's Shiv Sharan Singh Jagday conducted an Olympic Solidarity Coaching course in Bermuda in 2005.

Bosnia

Makand Singh (Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) - British Army) played Regimental hockey in Bosnia in 1996.

Brazil

Ranjeev Singh Deol, Ravinder Singh Kahlon and Sukhwinder Singh played for Canada at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, 15 - 25 July 2007.

Bulgaria

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar, Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar and Khushpal Singh Mangat played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Sofia, Bulgaria, 16 - 20 June 2011.

Cambodia

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar and Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Cambodia in 2012.

Canada

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Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)

Gian Singh of India coached the Ceylon team in 1959 and Chatarjit Singh coached the team in 1968.

Chile

Sikh spectators living in Chile who all play hockey in Chile during the Olympic Qualifier in Santiago on 8 March 2008.

India's Sardar Singh; Raj Pal Singh; Gurbaj Singh; Prabhjot Singh and Baljit Singh (G/K) played at Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago, Chile during the Olympic Qualifier in Chile, 1 - 9 March 2008.

China

Shangai Hockey Team 1944

Photo: Ron May Family Archives, with thanks to Sikhs in Shangai 

Canada's Ranjeev Singh Deol; Ravinder Singh Kahlon; Bindi Singh Kullar and Sukwinder Singh played at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium, Beijing, China during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, 10 - 23 August 2008.

China Taipei

Croatia

Kukoo Walia played for Hockey Club Marathon in Zagreb from 1978 to 1980. They were Champions of Yogoslavia in 1980. 

Zagreb is now capital of Croatia.

Cuba

Hargurnek (Nick) Singh Sandhu and Paul 'Bubli' Singh Chohan played for Canada in Havana, Cuba at the 11th Pan American Games, August 2 to 18, 1991.

Cyprus

Inderpal (Pali) Singh Sumal played for The Royal Air Force and Exiles Hockey Club in Akrotiri and in Episkopi, Cyprus from 1969 to 1972.

Diljit Singh Bahra played for The Army, Dhekelia Diehards and Exiles Hockey Club in Dhekelia, Ayios Nicolaos, Akrotiri and Episkopi in Cyprus from July 1972 to October 1974. 

Czechoslovakia

Iqbal Singh Kullar played for England against Czehoslovakia in Zagreb, Czehoslovakia on 11.5.1979.

Denmark

India playing against Kalundborg Hockey Klub in Denmark in 1952 just before the Helsinski 1952 Olympic Games.

Photo and info courtesy of Jan Kaiser Hansen (Denmark)

Dominican Republic

Ravinder Singh Kahlon, Ronnie Singh Jagday and Ranjeev Singh Deol played for Canada at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 2 to 13, 2003.

Dubai

Pargat Singh, Mohinder Pal Singh and Hardeep Singh played for India at the Al Wasl Stadium, Dubai on 4 January 1986 against Great Britain during the Emirates 4 Nations Tournament.

Egypt

Eire

Waterford Hockey Club. Above photo around 1970.

Sutinder Singh Khehar played for England Indoors against Ireland in Dublin, Eire on 24.4.1977.

England

Estonia

Falklands Islands

Balbir (Bill) Singh Panesar, Sergeant Royal Air Force, informs me that when he was posted at GEF, RAF Mount Pleasant, Falklands (BFPO 655) in 1988, they played indoor hockey in the Gym.

Fiji

Finland

India's Balbir Singh 'Senior' scored 5 goals at the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games Final against Netherlands on 24 July 1952.

France

Sikh Soldiers playing hockey in France in 1944.

Germany

Ghana

Satpal Singh of India coached the Ghana team at the East African Championship in Dar es Salaam in 1969.

Gibraltar

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar and Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Gibraltar in 2003.

Greece

India's Sandeep Singh; Prabhjot Singh; Baljeet Singh Dhillon; Gagan Ajit Singh and Harpal Singh played in Athens, Greece during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, 13 - 29 August 2004.  Jagbir Singh was India's Team Manager.

Guyana

Canada's Shiv Sharan Singh Jagday conducted an Olympic Solidarity course in Guyana in September 2011.

Haiti

Canada's Shiv Sharan Singh Jagday conducted a PAHF Coaching course in Haiti in January 2015.

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Three Sikhs played for Indonesia at the 1962 Asian Games. This is confirmed by Harnam Singh Grewal and Udham Singh Grewal of Hong Kong who both played at the Asian Games in Jakarta in 1962.

Chet Singh of Indonesia was a FIH international umpire in 1972.

Iran

Khodadd Jamaspian, who was a FIH Umpire and an official of Iran Hockey Association in the 1970s informs me that Sikhs played hockey in Iran in the 1960s and 1970s. He recalls Ranjit Singh who played for Taj Club in Teharan around the time of the Asian Games in Tehran in 1974. Gurbir Mansingh was a well known umpire around that time.

Ajit Pal Singh, Chand Singh, Harcharan Singh, Surjit Singh, Baldev Singh, Ajit Singh, Harmik Singh and Varinder Singh played for India in Tehran, Iran during the 1974 Asian Games.

Ireland

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar and Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Ireland, July 2010.

Photo courtesy of Tarlochan Singh Panesar

Sutinder Singh Khehar played for England Indoors against Scotland in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 5.2.1983.

Italy

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Japan

Baljit Singh of Malaysia in the match against Germany at the Olympic Hockey Qualifier at Gifu Perfectural Green Stadium at Kakamigahara on 8 April 2008.

Photo: Vino John / a2zfotos  

At the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games held 11 October - 23 October, 1964:

Pritipal Singh; Dharam Singh; Gurbax Singh; Joginder Singh; Harbinder Singh; Darshan Singh; Jagjit Singh and Udham Singh Kullar played for India. Dharam Singh Sr. was India's Team Coach.

Avtar Singh Sohal (Captain); Santokh Singh Matharu; Surjeet Singh Panesar; Amar Singh Mangat; Tejparkash Singh Brar and Kirpal Singh Bhardwaj played for Kenya. Hardial Singh Kular was Kenya's Coach.

Sarinder Singh Dillon; Harnam Singh Grewal and Kuldip Singh Gosal played for Hong Kong.

Ranjit Singh Gurdit and Tara Singh Sindhu played for Malaysia. 

Kenya

Korea (Republic of)

India's Jagbir Singh in action against Great Britain in Seoul, Korea during the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games.

At the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, held 28 September - 1 October 1988:

Kenya's Avtar Singh Sohal was a Technical Judge.

Pargat Singh Powar; Mohinder Pal Singh; Balwinder Singh and Jagbir Singh played for India.

Parminder Singh Saini and Inderjit Singh Matharu played for Kenya. Hardev Singh Kular was Kenya's Team Manager and Gursharan Singh Lal was the Coach.

Hargurnek Singh Sandhu; Paul 'Bubli' Singh Chohan and Ranjeet Singh Rai played for Canada.

Kulbir Singh Bhaura played for Great Britain.

Kuwait

Pargat Singh, Mohinder Pal Singh and Hardeep Singh played for India at the Al Arabi Stadium, Kuwait on 8 January 1986 against Great Britain during the Emirates 4 Nations Tournament.

Lithuania

Macau

Malawi

Malaysia

Maldives

Harbans Singh Panesar (born 1952 in Nairobi, Kenya) played hockey for Far East Air Force at Gan Islands in 1971. Hockey was played at Royal Air Force base in Gan (RAF Gan).

Malta

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar played for Members Hockey Club (a UK touring invitation Club) in Malta. (details await)

Mexico

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar and Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Camcum, Mexico, 9 - 20 February 2011.

Morocco

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar and Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Morocco in 2004.

Myanmar

Malaysia's Baljit Singh Charun also played at these Games. 

Nepal

Canada's Shiv Sharan Singh Jagday conducted an Olympic Solidarity Coaching course in Nepal in 2001.

Netherlands

India's Surjeet Singh in action during the Final against Netherlands at the 2nd World Cup in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 2 September 1973.

New Zealand

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Nigeria

Kenya's Harvinder Singh Kular, Jitender Singh Panesar and Kuljit Singh Dhak played in Ibadan, Nigeria at the All African Junior Championships in December 1978. Surjit Singh Rihal was team coach.

India's Gurdial Singh Sandhu was Nigeria's coach in 1971.

Norway

Jaswinder Pal Singh Garcha is the President of Norwegian Hockey Association.

Kulwinder Singh Powar from Mithapur villege in India  has been playing hockey in Norway since 1981. Kringsjå hockey klubb has several Sikh players, Reshem Singh, Lakhbir Singh Khera, Jaswinder Maha to name a few.

Club photo awaits

Oman

Avtar Singh Sohal of Kenya was appointed by the FIH and IOC Solidarity to conduct a Coaches Course at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman in 1989. The photo is from 1989 meeting with President of Oman Olympic Committee.

Right to Left: -  H.E. Dr. Hammad Hamed Al Ghafri, President of Oman Olympic Committee  Mr. Avtar Singh (Olympian), F.I.H., I.O.C. Solidarity Expert from Kenya 1989 (Coaches Course). Mr. S.A.S. Naqvi (Olympian), Technical Adviser of Oman Olympic Committee and F.I.H. expert 1989 (Coaches Course).

Photo: S.A.S Naqvi.

Pakistan

India's Sukhvir Singh Grewal in action during the Champions Trophy in Karachi, Pakistan in 1980.

Palestine

Ernie Wall of Scotland informs me that when he was stationed in Palestine in 1940 - 41, he played hockey with Sikh Regiments also stationed there at the time.

Peru

Hargurnek (Nick) Singh Sandhu played for Canada Juniors in Lima, Peru against Peru in a 3 match series in 1981. Canada Team was on her way to Santiago, Chile for the Junior World Cup Qualifier.

Shiv Sharan Singh Jagdev was Canada's Coach.

Poland

Canada 2011 Team in Poznan

Canada's Jeewanjot Singh Bath, Balmeet Singh Kullar and Manvir Singh Grewal played at Poznan International Fair Exhibition Hall, Poznan, Poland during the 2011 Men's Indoor Hockey Cup, February 8 - 13, 2011.

Photo: Yan Huckendubler (Canada)

Portugal

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar and Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Portugal in 2005.

Puerto Rico

Paul 'Bubli' Singh Chohan. Paramjit Singh Bahia and Sarbjit Singh Dusang played for Canada in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the 8th Pan American Games, July 1 - 15, 1979.

Qatar

Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Dharamvir Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Harbir Singh played for India at Al Rayyan Stadium, Doha, Qatar at the 2012 Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, 20 - 27 December 2012. 

Rhodesia

Romania

Tarlochan (Tochi) Singh Panesar, Sutinder (Suti) Singh Khehar, Khushpal Singh Mangat and Nirmal Singh Phalore played for Members Hockey Club (a UK Touring invitation Club) in Bucharest, Romania, 6 - 11 June 2012.

Photo courtesy of Tarlochan Singh Panesar

Russia

At the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games held 20 July - 29 July 1980:

Rajinder Singh Sr.; Davinder Singh; Gurmail Singh; Amarjit Singh Rana and Surinder Singh Sodhi played for India

Jasbir Singh Virdee and Jaypal Singh played for Tanzania. Tarlochan Singh Sandhu was Tanzania's Team Manager and Tarlochan Singh Geol was Tanzania's Coach.

Scotland

The Bhachu Family Team and Dundee Wanderers 'Over the ages' Select at Dawson Park.

"In the mid 1960s, Karam Singh Bhachu arrived from Kenya and joined Dundee Wanderers, a connection which was never lost" - Evening Telegraph 14 July 2015.

Photo: Jim Shepherd

Seychelles

Singapore

South Africa

Spain

Kenya's Team, led by Avtar Singh Sohal, at the opening ceremony of the 1st World Cup in Barcelona, Spain in 1971.

Sweden

Surjit Singh is an FIH outdoor and indoor international umpire.

Brothers Manjit Singh, Kuldip Singh and Ajit Singh Babra played for Uppsala Hockey Club in Sweden.

Manjit had previously played for Ramgarhia Club Kampala in Uganda and also the Poona University and Maharashtra district side in India.

Switzerland

Sutinder Singh Khehar and Manjit Singh Flora played for England Indoors against Switzerland in Zurich, Switzerland on 29.2.1980.

Tanzania

Thailand

Trinidad & Tobago

Canada's Shiv Sharan Singh Jagday has coached in Trinidad & Tobago (Photo awaits)

Uganda

USA

Venezuela

Paul 'Bubli' Singh Chohan, Hargurnek (Nick) Singh Sandhu played for Canada in Caracas, Venezuela at the 9th Pan American Games, August 14 to 29, 1983.

Siv Sharan Singh Jagday was Canada's Coach at these Games. 

Wales

Yugoslavia

India's Kukoo Walia played for Suboticnka Hockey Club, Subotica, Yogoslavia from 1976 to 1978. He was also the Coach of the team that participated in the European Club Championship in London in 1976.

Zambia

Zanzibar

Zimbabwe

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