Remembering Olympian Hardyal Singh–The Patient

By Tricitynews

Chandigarh 20th August:- While the death of Hockey Olympian recently shook the sports world, it did somewhere get lost under the news of ex-PM Vajpayee’s death.

But people associated with the ace Hockey Olympian remember him fondly. One such remembrance is from Dr Harpreet Gill, Senior Consultant in the Department of Orthopaedics at SPS Hospitals, Ludhiana.

Dr Harpreet Gill, who has a Fellowship from John Hopkins University (USA), remembers how when the Olympian came in more than a decade back his Department was abuzz with the news of India’s ace hockey player visiting Ludhiana for his Total Knee Replacement.

The Surgeon added that it was a great experience for my surgical team to interact with the stalwart sportsman and to help relieve him of his disabling pain of the knee joints. Prior to his knee replacement, Olympian Hardyal Singh was even experiencing difficulty in walking due to disabling arthritis of knee. After his knee replacement surgery, he became quite active and was raring to coach the Indian hockey team again.

Post his bilateral knee replacement at SPS Hospital about 12 years back the sportsmen visited Ludhiana often for his post-operative check-ups and he was active till almost his last days.

Dr Harpreet Gill `said that he remember two of his observations all the time,. `First that India would soon win the gold in the hockey Olympics and second that further knee replacements would be revolutionised so much that people would be able to run and play hockey post knee replacements. Dr Harpreet Gill stated that he and his surgical team will miss his yearly New Year wishes.

Hardayal Singh was part of the Indian hockey team that won the gold medal in 1956 Summer Olympics at Melbourne. He is remembered for his legendary five goals in a match against the United States in 1956 when India thrashed the US and won 16-0. Singh coached the Indian Hockey team from 1983 to 1987 and later on became an Advisor to the Indian Hockey Federation. He was also a recipient of the Dhyan Chand Award.

He retired from the post of Subedar in the Indian Army in 1969. He died on August 17 at the age of 95. Singh used to live in Dehradun.