Harbinder Singh
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's field hockey | ||
| Gold | 1964 Tokyo | Team competition |
| Bronze | 1972 Munich | Team competition |
Harbinder Singh (born July 8, 1943) is a former field hockey player from India.he started his international career in the year 1961 at the age of 18 years[youngest member of the team] with a tour to new zealand and Australia with indian hockey team.During the span of 12 years from 1961 to 1972 had the honour of representing the country in three olympics- Tokyo 1964--Gold Medal [scored highest field goals-5 out of 9 goals] ,Mexico 1968 --Bronze Medal [scored highest field goals [6 out of 11 including hat-trick against Mexico] and was also selected as a centre forward in the "World XI", in Munich 1972--bronze medal.
Represented the country in three Asian Games at Bangkok 1966--won Gold Medal , again at Bangkok 1970 won silver medal and was captain of the team and at Seoul 1986 as chief coach of the Indian Women Hockey team and won Bronze Medal.
Represented the country in two International Hockey Tournaments at Lyons[France}-1963 and Hamburg [Germany}--1966 winning Gold Medal at both places. At Hamburg ,scored 4 goals out of 8field Goals in the Tournaments. Represented Country in Pre-Olympic hockey tounament at London in 1967 and won Bronze Medal.
Represented Punjab state an Indian Railways in the National Hockey Championships fron 1961-1972 and won 8 Gold and 2 Silver Medals as an active player and as a coach of Indian Railways Hockey Team from 1975-1993 won 8 Gold and 4 Silver Medals.
Represented Punjab state in the National Athletic Championship at Trivandrum in 1959 and won Gold Medal in 4x100M Relay Race in juniors. Also represented Indian Railways in the All India Open Athletic Championship at Sangrur [punjab] in 1967 and won Gold Medal in 4x100M Relay Race , which is a very rare feat to win Gold Medals in two different sports i.e. Hockey and Athletics.
He was conferred with 'Arjuna Award' in 1967, 'Railway Minister Award' in 1966 and 'Best Sporstman Of The Railways' in 1972.
He was member of the Selection Committee of Indian Hockey Federation for juniors [1980-1984 and 1994-1998] and Women Hockey Federation for juniors and seniors [2004-2009]. Presently he is the member of the Selection Committee of 'Hockey India' and was Manager of the Indian Junior Men Hockey Team toured to Kenya [1984].
Being a sprinter he was the fastest Centre Forward in the 60s and 70s. In an interview to the print media Shri. K.D.singh Babu, chief coach Indian Hockey team in Munich Olympics 1972 observed that "Harbinder is still the fastest of the Indian Forwards". He was capable of scoring goals by picking up ball fron centre line, beating host of defenders with sheer speed, dash and artistry on many occasions. Worth mentioning goals are an equalizer against Pakistan within 20 seconds at Hamburg 1966, stunned each player and spectator and also scored two goals against Holland. Scored two goals against Australia in Pre-Olympics at Lords [London] in 1967 and was mentioned in print media as "Harbinder's both goals with great dash and surely the bowlers hatted monocle occupant of the long room at Lords will talk of him in years to come in same admiring terms as of Graveny and Sobers" and 1 goal in same manner against Germany in Mexico Olympics 1968.
He earned the distinction to replace such Olympic Centre Forwards as Major Dhyan Chand an Balbir Singh senior.
He associated with the game of Hockey for the last 54 years since 1961 serving the Nation for the promotion of Hockey as a Player, Coach, Selector, Organiser and Govt. Observer.
He won 36 Gold, 8 Silver and 4 Bronze Medals in various National and International Competitions during his Sports Career.