Introduction
Udham Singh is one amongst the best hockey players of India who distinguished himself between India`s hockey players in the Indian hockey`s golden age. Udham Singh was the one and only hockey player to have won 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal, after Leslie Claudius, in the Olympic Tournament. He is also the second Indian player who has had the honor of being the part of three consecutive Olympic Tournaments, which were Helsinki Olympics that was held in the year 1952, Melbourne Olympics that was held in the year 1956 and Tokyo Olympics that was held in the year 1960.
His proficient career instigated with the Punjab Police and later on he inclined the B.S.E. His worldwide career in the field of hockey started in the year 1949 in Ghanistan and he stayed as a vital part of the Indian Hockey team till the year 1964. Throughout his career of one and half decade long, he has been the captain of the Indian National Hockey team thrice in the year 1953, in the year 1959 and in the year 1961. An adaptable player, Udham Singh was a good center-forward player.
Early Life of Udham Singh
Udham Singh who was born on the 4th day of August month in the year 1928, in Sansarpur in Punjab. On the borders of Jalandhar District, the Sansrpur village is very well known for making best hockey players for India. One of the top players assuredly was Udham Singh, the center forwarder in many of India Hockey team`s matches. Even though Udham Singh had a small physique at just 5 feet 6 inches and weigh up only 58 kg, it never ever affected his game.
He also had the skill to play at the various positions like right-inside, left-inside, center-forward at center-half position too. His commitment and dedication to the Indian National Hockey team has continuously set an example for his fellow players. One time when his team was deceitful in a tournament he made himself into the playing kit and twisted. The Indian Government honored Udam Singh with the desired A7rjuna Award.
Career of Udham Singh
TWith his sturdy skillful playing talent, he was chosen up by the solid Punjab Police team to play, which has bragged a various number of Olympians. Owing to a finger wound Udham Singh missed the Olympics in the year 1948. He was a support of the awesome Indian team that won successive gold medals in the Helsinki Olympics in the year 1952 and Melbourne Olympics in the year 1956. After the Tokyo Games in the year 1964, Udham Sigh made his retreat from the Olympic presence. At that game India overturned their earlier Olympic final loss to the Pakistan to arise the winners.
Udham Singh who is Acknowledged to be a Versatile Forward
Udham Singh who is acknowledged to be a versatile forward, might even play at left -inside, right -inside, center forward or snap even at center-half position too. This awesome man has sanctified and devoted his entire life to the field of sports. He still upholds himself as apt as in his time period. His profession durations from the year 1949 to the year 1964 and in this period, he had led Indian Hockey team as captain thrice. The first time of his captaincy was in the year 1953 when the Indian National Hockey team departed on a tour of Warsaw, Poland and again moreover in the India`s European and East African tours.
Third Time he led the Indian National Hockey Team
The third time he led the Indian National Hockey team as captain on New Zealand and Australian tours. Udham Singh might have become the one and only Indian to symbolize India in the five successive Olympic Games. But wound prevented Udam Singh from attaining that honor. After retiring from the active field hockey Udham Singh, trained the Indian National Hockey team. The Indian National Hockey Team partook at the Olympics held in London in the year 1967. The Indian National Hockey team won the Silver medal and also won at the Asian Games in the year 1970 at Bangkok.
Udam Singh was Made the Captain of his Hockey Team
Udam Singh was made the Captain of his Hockey team at college in the year 1947, and he was employed by the Punjab Police in the very same year, which had been one of the best Hockey teams in the country at that time. For duration of 18 years he played for the Punjab Police, and was again made the captain of the team a couple of times in the tenure. Also, Udham Singh was finally made the Captain in the year 1954 for the State Hockey team of Punjab.
Domestic Hockey
Udham Singh might have made his first appearance at Olympics right in the London Olympics in the year 1948, but owing to a finger wound he lost the chance. He played in a Hockey Series Afghanistan in the year 1949, being part to India�s triumph at the Series. Udham was a key player of the Indian National Hockey team at Helsinki Olympics that was held in the year 1952 where the Captain K.D. Singh Babu led the Indian National Hockey team to a Gold Medal win and at the Melbourne Olympics that was held in the year 1956 where Balbir Singh Senior magnificently led the Indian National hockey team to save the Gold Medal again.
International Hockey
Udham Singh, also played in the Rome Olympics in the year 1960 and his 4th and final Olympic was Tokyo Olympics that was held in the year 1964. At Rome Olympics in the year 1960, Pakistan team defeated Indian National Hockey team in the Finals, while the Indian National Hockey team got back its Gold Medal back from the Pakistan team in the Tokyo Olympics defeating the opponents by a whopping 1-0 score. Udham Singh provided his very best performance at the Tokyo Asian Games in the year 1958 but still could not get India the Gold medal as Pakistan beat India on the root of better goal average.
Awards
Udham Singh provided his very best performance at the Tokyo Asian Games in the year 1958 but still could not get India the Gold medal as Pakistan beat India on the root of better goal average.To appreciate the amenities and involvement of Udham Singh towards the game of field Hockey, the Government of India honored Udam Singh with the Arjuna Award in the year 1965.
