Tribute to Penalty King Prithipal Singh on his 40th death anniversary
Last month I was in Nairobi to witness the Vaisakhi Hockey Tournament organized by Sikh Union, Nairobi, perhaps one of the oldest sports clubs in the world. The Club will be celebrating its centenary in 2026. One of several luminaries the Club proudly claims to have produced is Avtar Singh Sohal, “Tari” to his friends and fans the world over.
Tari belongs to a rare band of hockey Olympians who attended six Olympics, four as a player, one as a coach and one as a Technical Delegate.
Interestingly, he represented two “Kenyas” in the prestigious quadrangular Games. In 1960, his first Olympics, he represented British Kenya. Subsequently, he represented independent Kenya in 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games.
We often meet, exchange notes, talk hockey, and share some interesting encounters/episodes on and off the hockey field.
Recently when I buttonholed him in Nairobi, I asked Tari who had been his favorite Indian hockey player. Overwhelmed, he smiled back: “Those days, all Indian players were outstanding and great. I was always a fan of VJ Peter, Joginder Singh also known as Gindi, and of course the great Balbir Singh Senior. But my all-time favorite was Prithipal Singh, one of the greatest fullbacks the game has produced. He was an icon – ruthless, tough and the best penalty corner hitter of his times.
“Since I also played as a fullback, I used to watch him closely. I learnt so much from him. Besides being an outstanding player with whom I played in a couple of Olympic Games, including 1964 and 1968, he was a simple man, a thorough gentleman,” recalls Avtar Singh Sohal.
There cannot be a better tribute from an Olympian to an Olympian, from an outstanding fullback to one of greatest fullbacks of his time. They rubbed shoulders and opposed each other many times on the playfield but remained great friends.
“I was deeply anguished when I heard of his untimely death in 1983. Hockey needed him for a much longer period,” adds Avtar Singh Sohal.
Those who know “Bhaji” will fully endorse what Tari says.
Besides being an accomplished hockey player, he was a top administrator and was Director, Students Welfare, at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He, himself, held master’s in agriculture.
His soul used to be in lush green playfields of Punjab Agricultural University. And those who ever invaded the playfields for activities other than sports knew the punishment. Hockey was his passion. He, however, never compromised on his principles.
Not many would have known that he refused to bow to the pressure tactics of the then hockey chief, Mr. Ashwani Kumar. To the great dismay of Mr. Kumar quit Punjab Police and joined Railways. He knew this step may cost him a place in the 1964 Olympic team. But for him his principles and ideals were higher than begging for a place in the team.
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