Personal life
Ajit Pal Singh who was born on the 5th day in the month of April in the year 1947 was an Indian proficient field hockey player from Sansarpur, Punjab, India. He has led the team as the captain of the Indian National Hockey team. He was nominated for the Arjuna Award in the year 1970, and it was awarded to him in the year1972. He always played at center half position in the Hockey field. He led the Indian National Hockey team as a captain at the Hockey World Cup in the year 1975 that was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He had represented Indian nation in three Olympics from the year 1968 through the year 1976, securing bronze medals in his first two Olympic Games. He was selected as India's chef de mission for the year 2012 Summer Olympics. It was the very first time that a person from the field of sports was given this great opportunity, as in the past this position went to any politicians or officers. However, he was not able to make it to the occasion owing to severe spondylitis. Seven member IOA, which expands as Indian Olympic Association Committee chose in the month of April in the year 2012 Ajit Pal Singh as the Chef de Mission for Indian mission in London Olympics in the year 2012.
He is also currently the establishing member of All India Balwant Singh Kapur Hockey Tournament for the Mata Parkash Kaur Cup that is held every year for the school boys under the age of 16.Ajit Pal Singh was born on the 5th day of the April in the year 1947 at Sansarpur which is a small town near Jallandhar Cantonment of Punjab state, which was well-known as a propagation ground for the International Hockey stars as this town had been the birthplace to a number of International Hockey players who have made the Indian nation proud with their creditable performance in the hockey game.
At the tender age of just 7 or 8 years, small Ajit Pal had been given over a Hockey stick by his close uncle. He completed his education at the Cantonment Board Higher Secondary School, Jallandhar Cantonment and at the very young age of just 16 years, Ajit Pal Singh represented the Punjab State School�s Hockey team in the matches that was held in the year 1963. Throughout his early days, Ajit Pal Singh used to play at the Back position in the field.
Domestic Hockey
He relocated to the Lyallpur Khalsa College in Jallandhar, Punjab, India in the year 1964, and remained there for a short duration of 4 years leading the college Hockey team to 3 wins in the Punjab University College tournament. It was in the Punjab University College tournament that Ajit Pal Singh moved from the Full Back Position to the Center Half Position, which became his real position thereafter.
International Hockey
He was made the Captain of the Punjab University Hockey team in the year of 1966, and he had represented Indian Universities� Hockey team in the year of 1968 for which he was selected due to his amazing filed hockey playing skills. Ajit Pal Singh made his very first appearance in the International Hockey field with a tournament that was played at Bombay, Maharashtra, India in the year 1960. He was then chosen for the Indian Hockey team that went Japan for tournament tour in the year 1966, and contributed in the Pre-Olympic tournament that was held in London the very next year.
Ajit Pal Singh had been part of the Indian National Hockey Team
Moreover, he has played in the Mexico Olympic Games in the year 1968 and conveyed an excellent performance even though the Indian National Hockey team stood at 3rd position at the event. Ajit Pal Singh had been part of the Indian National Hockey team that played at Bangkok Asian Games in the year 1970, and he was made the Captain of the Indian National Hockey team that took part in the Post Shuan Tournament that was held at Singapore in the year 1971, and Tehran Asian Games that was held in the year 1974.
Indian National Hockey Team Coped to win a Silver Medal
The Indian National Hockey team coped to win a Silver Medal at both the hockey tournaments. Ajit Pal Singh was a part of the Indian National Hockey team that played at Munich Olympic Games that was held in the year1972, where the Indian team completed at the 3rd position securing a Bronze Medal. But he actually touched the peak of glory in the year 1975 when he had led the Indian National Hockey team to the third world cup hockey win in the Kuala Lumpur under the most tiring conditions.
Ajit Pal Singh Next Visited New Zealand
The Punjab Government had accepted all the expenditures prior to the contribution by organizing a camp for the Indian National Hockey team in Punjab. The entire country was in a boundless joy. For the very first time the Hockey appeared to get high importance over the cricket in the Indian country, where Hockey is actually the national sport of the nation. Ajit Pal Singh next visited New Zealand. But in the year 1976 in the Montreal Olympic Games, the Indian National Hockey team underwent the most embarrassing defeat under the Ajit Pal Singh where they ended in Seventh position.
Indian National Hockey Team�s Performance at the Montreal Olympic Games
No one appeared to be prepared with a proper answer on what went wrong for, India had fielded almost the exact same team that had won the 3rd World Cup Hockey tournament title in the past. Fed up with Indian National Hockey team�s performance at the Montreal Olympic Games and in the opinion of the rising criticism in the country, Ajit Pal Singh discharged from the International Hockey stage. Though, he sustained playing for the BSF where Ajit was working as the Assistant Commandant.
Ajit Pal Singh was given the Arjuna Award in the Year 1972
Ajit Pal Singh was also not actually happy the way the Indian Hockey Federation accomplished its matters treating the players poorly off and on the hockey field. Four years afterwards, Ajit pal Singh arose out of the retirement to be a part of the team that played in the champion Trophy Tournament that was held at Karachi in the year 1980. Ajit Pal Singh was given the Arjuna Award in the year 1972.
Ajit Pal Singh was Discussed upon the Arjuna Award
As an honor to his exceptional involvement in the Indian Hockey, Ajit Pal Singh was discussed upon the Arjuna Award in the year of 1970 and was given with the award in the year 1972. Further, he was also conferred the Padma Shri award by the Indian Government in the year 1992.
