Surjeet Panesar

 
 

Surjeet Singh Panesar (Junior)

 Date and place of Birth 24.06.1938 in Nairobi, Kenya
 Club Sikh Union Club Nairobi
 Playing position Centre half / Full back
 First international 19.07.1959 v India in Mombasa, Kenya
 Last international 07.09.1972 v Argentina at Munich Olympics
 Olympic Games  Rome 1960; Tokyo 1964; Mexico 1968; Munich 1972
 World Cup Barcelona 1971
 
 
 
 

Olympic Games

 Games

 Date

 Phase

 Match

 Goals

 Rome 1960 29.08.1960 Group C

 Kenya 1 - Germany 0

 0

 Rome 1960 01.09.1960 Group C Kenya 7 - Italy 0

 1

 Rome 1960 03.09.1960 Group C Kenya 0 - France 0

 0

 Rome 1960 05.09.1960 Quarter - finals Kenya 1 - Great Britain 2

 0

 Rome 1960 08.09.1960 Class 5 - 8 Kenya 1 - Australia 1

 0

 Rome 1960 10.09.1960 Class 5 - 8 replay Kenya 1 - Australia 2

 1

 Tokyo 1964 11.10.1964 Group A Kenya 0 - Zimbabwe 0

 0

 Tokyo 1964 12.10.1964 Group A Kenya 2 - Pakistan 5

 0

 Tokyo 1964 13.10.1964 Group A Kenya 3 - New Zealand 2

 0

 Tokyo 1964 15.10.1964 Group A Kenya 1 - Australia 0

 0

 Tokyo 1964 16.10.1964 Group A Kenya 0 - Japan 2

 0

 Tokyo 1964 18.10.1964 Group A Kenya 1 - Great Britain 0

 0

 Tokyo 1964 21.10.1964 Class 5 - 8 Kenya 3 - Netherlands 1

 0

 Tokyo 1964 22.10.1964 Class 5 - 6 Kenya 0 - Germany 3

 0

 Mexico 1968 13.10.1968 Group B Kenya 0 - Australia 2

 0

 Mexico 1968 14.10.1968 Group B Kenya 1 - Malaysia 1

 0

 Mexico 1968 16.10.1968 Group B Kenya 2 - France 0

 0

 Mexico 1968 17.10.1968 Group B Kenya 2 - Netherlands 0

 1

 Mexico 1968 19.10.1968 Group B Kenya 2 - Argentina 1

 1

 Mexico 1968 20.10.1968 Group B Kenya 3 - Great Britain 0

 0

 Mexico 1968 21.10.1968 Group B Kenya 1 - Pakistan 2

 0

 Mexico 1968 22.10.1968 Group B Play off Kenya 2 - Australia 3

 1

 Mexico 1968 23.10.1968 Class 5 - 8 Kenya 1 - Spain 2

 0

 Mexico 1968 25.10.1968 Class 7 - 8 Kenya 0 - New Zealand 2

 0

 Munich 1972 27.08.1972 Group B Kenya 0 - Poland 1

 0

 Munich 1972 28.08.1972 Group B Kenya 1 - Australia 3

 0

 Munich 1972 30.08.1972 Group B Kenya 1 - Netherlands 5

 0

 Munich 1972 02.09.1972 Group B Kenya 2 - India 3

 0

 Munich 1972 03.09.1972 Group B Kenya 2 - New Zealand 2

 2

 Munich 1972 04.09.1972 Group B Kenya 2 - Mexico 1

 0

 Munich 1972 07.09.1972 Class 13 - 14 Kenya 1 - Argentina 0

 0

 
 
 
 

Surjeet Singh Panesar (Jr) affectionately known as Sindh was born in Nairobi, Kenya. His parents had emigrated to Kenya from India in 1919.

He studied at Duke of Gloucester School in Nairobi and went to India for further studies in 1954. He studied at Maharaja Patiala Public School and Patiala University. He played hockey for his School and University teams and during School holidays he played for Mohindra College. Harbail Singh, the Indian Team Coach, who coached the College team took him under his wings and had a big influence in his hockey. He also played football during this period.

On returning to Kenya in 1957, he joined Sikh Union Nairobi, a Club which his father, Mr Balwant Singh Lalton, a very active sportsman, had very deep association with - He was one of the founders of Khalsa Club which later became Sikh Union Club.

He represented Sikh Union Nairobi from 1957 to 1980, winning the Ujjager Singh Rai Cup; Kesar Singh Cup; Siri Guru Gobind Singh Cup and Aggarwal Cup in the 1957 - 58 season.

He represented Asian Sports Association and was a member of the team that won the Kenya Cup in 1958.

He was selected to represent Nairobi X1 against England at City Park Stadium, Nairobi on 19 September 1958 and the following year he continued representing Nairobi X1 as a centre forward in the matches against India in Kenya.

He was selected to represent Kenya against India in Mombasa, Kenya on 19 July 1959. 

From this moment he became a regular for the National team, playing as a centre forward and was selected for Rome 1960 Olympic Games. He played in the 3 Test match series against Pakistan in Nairobi  on the way to the Olympics.

Following the East African Championships held in Zanzibar in 1962 and retirement of Surjeet Singh Deol (Sr), Sindh took over the pivot position of centre half and this is the position where he excelled. He played at Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games and started as a centre half at Mexico 1968 Olympic Games. Injury to the Left back and captain of the Kenya team after only two matches at Mexico forced Sindh to take up the position of Left full back for the rest of these Games.

He was selected to represent Kenya at the first Hockey World Cup in Barcelona in 1971 where Kenya reached the semi-finals.

At Munich 1972 Olympic Games, Sindh played as right back.  He retired from playing international hockey after these Games.

He is one of three Kenyans to have played at four Olympic Games. 

He died in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday 6 November 2019 following a short illness.