Part 10/10

A 100-year-old legacy lives on – Punjab's first Olympian Dalip Singh as a coach and mentor

(Saurabh Duggal)

Following his Olympic career, Dalip Singh, an officer in the Patiala Army, took on the responsibility of training athletes from Patiala. Under his guidance, Patiala athletes secured the national championship for 15 consecutive years until 1948.

Under his mentorship, athletes Niranjan Singh and Raunaq Singh represented Patiala at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, while Sadhu Singh, Chhota Singh, and Som Nath participated in the 1948 London Olympics.

After Independence, when the Patiala Army merged with the Indian Army, Brigadier Dalip Singh assumed the role of coach-cum-manager for the services team. They clinched the national title in 1949.

He coached the services athletes during the inaugural Asian Games, where they secured four gold, six silver, and six bronze medals.

During the second Asian Games held in the Philippines in 1954, Brigadier Dalip Singh served as the manager of the Indian contingent. Out of the 22-member Indian athletic contingent, 19 hailed from the services, claiming five gold, three silver, and five bronze medals.

Brigadier Dalip Singh played a pivotal role in establishing a strong foundation for sports within the services, particularly in athletics.

Dalip Singh retired from the Indian Army in 1951 with the rank of Brigadier. Following his retirement, he was involved with Patiala Sports as an administrator, stationed at Yadavindra Stadium. Additionally, he served as the honorary secretary of the Punjab Olympic Association.

During the 1956 National Games held in Patiala, in recognition of his contributions, the Games Village was named after him as 'Dalip Nagar.'

To inspire future generations to pursue Olympic glory, the family has donated artifacts, including blazers, medals, hockey sticks, pictures, and the 1951 Asian Games torch, associated with Dalip Singh and Balkrishan, to the National Sports Museum at NIS Patiala.

“I heard about renovations at the National Sports Museum, and I trust that the authorities are taking proper care of the artifacts and displaying them appropriately. These items represent our family's legacy, and if they inspire someone to follow in the footsteps of these legends, it would be the greatest tribute,” remarked Hareena.