Part 9 of 10 part series - 9/10

Patiala Army: A Gateway to the Olympics

(Saurabh Duggal)

Upon joining the first Patiala Infantry, Dalip Singh forged a close bond with the erstwhile ruler of Patiala, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, whose influence exposed him to a new realm of sports.

Within the Patiala Army, Dalip Singh excelled as an all-round athlete, dominating in athletics events and serving as the center-half for the Patiala Tigers in hockey.

As hockey gained prominence in Punjab, Dalip's interest in the sport grew. However, with hockey not included in the 1924 Olympics, he continued his focus on athletics at the urging of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh.

His gold medal win at the All-India Athletics Meet, held in New Delhi in early 1924, earned him a spot in the seven-member athletics squad for the 1924 Olympics, making him the first athlete from Punjab to compete in the Olympics.

During this time, government support for sports was scarce, and funding largely relied on contributions from princely states and public donations, which paved the way for the Indian contingent to participate in the games.

The All-India Olympic Association appealed to the public for financial support through their associate units to aid the Indian contingent. The Punjab Olympic Association took the lead, contributing over Rs 1100, gathered from donations made by students of 47 schools of the state.

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, a prominent supporter of sports in the country and president of the Indian Olympic Association from 1928 to 1938, played a crucial role in funding Dalip Singh's journey to the Olympics.

“Patiala boasts a rich legacy of sports patronage, and as Dalip Singh was part of the Patiala Army, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh facilitated his expenses for traveling to Paris,” recounted five-time Olympian Randhir Singh, a grandson of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. “I had the privilege of attending the inauguration ceremony of the first Asian Games, where Dalip Singh lit the Games' flame. The entire stadium rose in a standing ovation. He was a true legend, and I had the honor of meeting him several times," added Raja Randhir Singh, who is also heading the Olympic Council of Asia.

Continued...

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https://www.pixstory.com/story/a-100-year-old-legacy-lives-on-punjabs-first-olympian-dalip-singh-as-a-coach-and-mentor1718537068/319056