Sikhs impact at Tokyo Olympic Games – 1964 and 2020

by Dil Bahra
12 August 2021

Sikhs Players

Twenty two Sikhs representing Hong Kong; India; Kenya and Malaysia played at Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.

Hong Kong's squad included three Sikhs, namely Harnam Singh Grewal; Kuldip Singh and Sarinder Singh Dillon.

India's Gold Medal winning squad at Tokyo 1964 included eight Sikhs, namely:  Prithipal Singh; Dharam Singh; Gurbux Singh; Joginder Singh; Harbinder Singh; Darshan Singh; Jagjit Singh and Udham Singh. India's coach was a Sikh, Dharam Singh Sr.

Kenya's team, led by a Sikh, Avtar Singh Sohal included six Sikhs, namely Amar Singh Mangat; Avtar Singh Sohal (Capt); Kirpal Singh Bhardwaj; Santokh Singh Matharu; Surjeet Singh Panesar; Tejparkash Singh Brar. Kenya's coach was a Sikh, Hardial Singh Kular.

Malaysia's team included three Sikhs, namely Kartar Singh Chandra; Ranjit Singh Gurdit and Tara Singh Sindhu.

Gursewak Singh of India was on the Umpires panel at Tokyo 1964.

It is interesting to note that the International Hockey Federation asked Tanganyika to fill the place in Pool A at Tokyo 1964 that was vacated by United Arab Republic. Tanganyika had selected a team, which included five Sikh players - Jaswant Singh Sandhu; Rabinder Singh Gill; Tarlochan Singh Lall; Tarlochan Singh Sandhu and Sem Singh Bhachu. Tanganyika Olympic Association, however, withdrew the hockey team due to lack of funds. This place was then allocated to Indonesia.

The Indonesian hockey team had three Sikh players in their squad. The Indonesian Squad was in Tokyo but withdrew shortly before the Games began (The international federations for athletics (IAAF) and swimming (FINA) refused to allow athletes that competed in the unsanctioned 1963 Games of the Newly Emerging Forces (GANEFO). This resulted in the full withdrawal of the Indonesian (and North Korean) Olympic team).

At Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games there were thirteen Sikhs representing Canada and India.

Canada Men's team had one Sikh player, namely Sukhpal Singh Panesar.

India Men's team, led by a Sikh, Manpreet Singh included nine Sikhs, namely Dilpreet Singh; Rupinder Pal Singh; Manpreet Singh (capt); Hardik Singh; Gurjant Singh;  Simranjeet Singh; Mandeep Singh;  Harmanpreet Singh and Shamsher Singh;

India's Women team had three Sikh players - Gurjit Kaur; Navjot Kaur and Navneet Kaur.

Sikh Goal Scorers

At Tokyo 1964, Sikhs scored a total of 29 goals. India's Prithipal Singh, was the top goal-scorer at the hockey tournament with ten goals. Sikhs scored 17 of India's 22 goals. Harbinder Singh scoring five and Darshan Singh scoring two to add to Prithipal's ten.

Six of Kenya's ten goals were scored by Sikhs - Avtar Singh Sohal and Amar Singh Mangat with three goals each.

Kuldip Singh Gosal scored for Hong Kong against Canada in 1964 and in 1976 he represented Canada at Montreal Olympics.

At Tokyo 2020, Sikhs scored a total of 27 goals.

In the Men's tournament, Sikhs scored 22 of India's 25 goals. Harmanpreet Singh, India's drag-flicking expert was the top Indian goal-scorer with 6 goals. Rupinder Pal Singh scored 4; Simranjeet Singh and Gurjant Singh scoring 3 goals each; Dilpreet Singh and Hardik scoring 2 goals each and Mandeep Singh and Shamsher Singh with a goal each.

In the Women's tournament, Sikh scored five of India's 12 goals. Gurjit Kaur scored four goals and Navneet Kaur one goal.

Enormous contribution by Sikh players wins India Men the Bronze at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

by Diljit Bahra
5 August 2021

India's team who beat Germany in the Bronze Medal match at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on 5 August 2021 included nine Sikh players in the squad of 16.

India won the thrilling match 5 - 4. All five of India's goals were scored by Sikh players - Simranjeet Singh (2), Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh and Hardik Singh.

At Tokyo 2020, Sikhs scored 22 of India's 25 goals in the hockey tournament. Harmanpreet Singh, India's drag-flicking expert was the top Indian goal-scorer with 6 goals. Rupinder Pal Singh scored 4; Simranjeet Singh and Gurjant Singh scoring 3 goals each; Dilpreet Singh and Hardik scoring 2 goals each and Mandeep Singh and Shamsher Singh with a goal each.

When the Olympic Games were played in Tokyo in 1964, India won the Gold. The Squad of 18 included eight Sikh players - Prithipal Singh; Dharam Singh; Gurbux Singh; Joginder Singh; Harbinder Singh; Darshan Singh; Jagjit Singh and Udham Singh. The coach was a Sikh, Dharam Singh Sr.

In 1964, Prithipal Singh, India's penalty corner expert, was the top goal-scorer at the hockey tournament with ten goals. Sikhs scored 17 of India's 22 goals, Harbinder Singh scoring five and Darshan Singh scoring two to add to Prithipal's ten.

The last time India was in a Bronze Medal match at Olympic Games was in Munich 1972. They defeated Netherlands 2 - 1. At Munich, India's squad of 18 included 8 Sikh players - Mukhbain Singh; Ajit Pal Singh; Harmik Singh (captain); Harbinder Singh; Kulwant Singh; Harcharan Singh; Virender Singh; and Ajit Singh.

At Munich, Sikhs scored 17 of India's 26 goals. Mukhbain Singh scored 9, Harmik Singh and Kulwant Singh scoring 4 goals each.

Sikh Men and Sikh Woman power India to Semi-finals at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

by Diljit Bahra
2 August 2021

On Sunday 1 August 2021, field goals by Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh and Hardik Singh, in India's 3 - 1 win against Great Britain put India into the semi-finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. They now play against Belgium in the semi-finals on 3 August.

The Indian Men's squad of eighteen includes nine Sikh players.

A day later, on Monday 2 August 2021, a penalty corner goal by Gurjit Kaur, in India's 1 - 0 win against Australia put India into the semi-finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. They now play against Argentina in the semi-finals on 4 August.

The Indian Women's squad of eighteen includes three Sikh players.

Navneet Kaur - First Sikh Women to score a goal at Olympic Games

by Diljit Bahra
30 July 2021

India's Navneet Kaur became the first Sikh Women to score a goal at Olympic Games when she scored in a field goal in the 57^th minute against Ireland in Pool A of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on 30 July 2021. India won the match 1 - 0.

Navneet is one of three Sikh women in India's squad at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Gurjit Kaur and Navjot being the other two.

Navneet, 25, from Shahbad Markanda, has represented India since 2014 when she earned her first international cap when she played against Ireland in Dublin on 15 April 2014. She had earlier represented the U21 team from July 2013 to September 2015.

She represented India at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and the London 2018 World Cup.

The first Olympic goal by a Sikh man was scored by Gurmit Singh Kular at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games when he scored against Japan on 4 August 1932. He scored three goals in that match and followed that with five goals against U.S.A. on 11 August 1932.

Kenya’s double Olympian, Parminder (Kake) Saini passes away - a Covid-19 victim

By Dil Bahra
31 May 2021

Parminder Singh (Kake) Saini who represented Kenya the Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul Olympic Games died in Kisumu yesterday evening (30^th May) - a Covid- 19 victim, aged 63.

It died on the same day he was due to join other Kenyan Olympic players at a Zoom get-together. He had confirmed his attendance and was looking towards this event. The sad news of his passing away came four hours after the Zoom conference, attended by some 20 Kenyan Olympians ended.

Randiek Nashon, Chairman,Kenya Hockey Union  said  on hearing the sad news "  Parminder Singh Saini was a great hockey player who represented this country for a long time. On my own behalf and family, Kenya Hockey Union Council, the hockey fraternity, the Olympic family and friends. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends".

Avtar Singh Sohal, Kenya's legendary player and coach said on hearing the news " I played and  coached Kaka. He was one of the  Greatest  players of Kenya. He had smile all the time, humble  down to earth and adorable person. We all will miss him especially the hockey fraternity .We have lost great sports personality. May the Almighty rest his soul in eternal peace Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends"

Parminder was born on 19 September 1957 in Kisumu, Kenya. He studied at Miwani Primary School, Kisumu and Kisumu Boys High School. He played hockey for Kisumu Boys High School up to 1976.

In 1976 he went to UK for further studies and studied at Langley College, Slough, Berkshire. He joined Slough Hockey Club, one of the top hockey clubs in the country at the time and played for the club's 1st team until 1979.

He returned to Kenya in 1979 and joined Kisumu Simba Union Club.

He represented Kenya at the six nations tournament in Loisano, Italy where he earned his first international cap when he was selected to play against India on 5 September 1981.

He captained Kenya at the East African Championship in Tanga, Tanzania in 1983.

He played in the test series against India in Kenya and captained the team in the 4^th test match in June 1983.

He was selected to represent Kenya at Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. He scored two goals against Canada and one goal against U S A at these Olympic Games.

He represented Kenya at the All African Games in Nairobi in August 1987.

He played at the Lada Classic Tournament in Luton, England in August 1988.

He was selected to represent Kenya at Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and played at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tournaments in India,

He played for Africa in the inaugural Inter-Continent Tournament played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in December 1990.

He played his last international match against Zimbabwe in Nairobi on 13 February 1993.

After retiring from playing, he coached Kisumu Simba Union.

He was Manager of Kenya team at the All Africa Games in South Africa in 1999.

He was the vice chairman of Kenya Hockey Union from 2014 to 2015 and is currently a technical advisor.

Parminder Singh Saini was born in Kisumu, Kenya and died in Kisumu, Kenya.

B G Joshi – Hockey Statistician (1954 – 2021)

by Dil Bahra
28 April 2021

Baboolal Goverdhan Joshi, popularly known as B G Joshi was born on 27 November 1954 in Rajgarh (Biaora), Madhya Pradesh, India.

He played hockey at School in Rajgarth.

He was a Civil Engineer in Water Resources Department for Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Whilst still at School, in 1970, he started compiling hockey statistics and records on tournaments.

He had expanded his collection from just Indian records (both men and women) to a collection of records of every hockey playing country in the world. 

He was a regular contributor to several Hindi newspapers in India. He also wrote regularly for Naidunia, Indore, Hindu Sportster, Fieldhockey.com and Bharatiyahockey,org.

He was a member of Hockey Writers' Club since March 2006 and also "Friend of The Hockey Museum"

He maintained his comprehensive and accurate and update records in three "Record Books on Hockey" which he updated daily.

Book 1: consists medalists summary; matches and goals; standings; the finals; top scorers of all international tournaments (Men, Women and Juniors) since their inception.

Book 2: Indian Men and Women's Results, Squads, Series played.

Book 3: World Records on 75 different angles of the Hockey game.

He was a humble man, highly respected by his peers yet did not receive any awards for his enormous contribution to the game from Hockey India and the FIH.

He died on 20 April 2021 and leaves behind his wife, Krishna and sons Neeraj and Shravan.

Hockey Association Coaching Awards Course 1 - 8 August 1981

by Dil Bahra
25 March 2021

My two websites, Sikhs in Hockey (http://www.sikhsinhockey.com/) and Hockey on Stamps (http://www.hockeyonstamps.com/Default.aspx?site=Hockeyonstamps2) have been kindly sponsored by Denys Shortt OBE, a British businessman and entrepreneur since 2012. Denys also sponsored The Hockey Museum website when it was first set up in 2011.

I later learnt that Denys played for England at U16, U18 and U21 levels for both indoor and outdoor hockey. He represented Midlands School boys from early eighties. My research into Sikhs in Hockey revealed that Denys' team mate during this period was Sikh Hockey Olympian Soma Singh. Both of them represented England at The Junior World Cup in Vancouver, Canada in 1985. 

I've met Denys in person on a few occasions at hockey events and we often correspond on hockey matters via e-mail. And we have been both honoured as Life Members of The Hockey Museum.

It was by chance that I learnt this week that Denys and I were on the same Hockey Association Coaching Awards Course 40 years ago. The residential course at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, near Newport, Shropshire, was held from 1 - 8 August 1981.

What a coincidence. It's very small world.