Indian hockey legend Charanjit Singh dies at 90: PM offers condolences

The former mid-fielder and Captain of India's 1964 Tokyo Olympics gold medal-winning hockey team died following a cardiac arrest. He was 90 and would have turned 91 next month. He is survived by two sons and one daughter.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed condolences over the demise of the hockey legend Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee Charanjit Singh who passed away in Una district, Himachal Pradesh due to age-related complications.

The two-time Olympian was 92. He was part of India's glorious days in hockey.

"Saddened by the passing away of noted Hockey player, Shri Charanjit Singh. He played a key role in the successes of the Indian Hockey Team, most notably in the Rome and Tokyo Olympics in the 1960's. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted.

The former mid-fielder was 90 and would have turned 91 next month. He is survived by two sons and one daughter. Charanjit suffered a stroke five years back and was paralysed since then.

"Dad was paralysed after suffering a stroke five years back. He used to walk with a stick but since the last couple of months, his health deteriorated and this morning he left us," V.P. Singh, his son, told PTI.

A charismatic halfback, Charanjit Singh had led the Indian team to a historic Gold Medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, beating Pakistan in the final, and was also part of the Indian team that won silver in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.

Born on 20 November 1929, Charanjit Singh was an alumnus of Col. Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun, and Punjab University.

After his illustrious career in international hockey, he worked as Director of the Physical Education department at Himachal Pradesh University, in Shimla

Besides captaining the Olympic gold-winning team in 1964, he was also a part of the silver-winning side in the 1960 edition of the Games. He was also a part of the 1962 Asian Games silver-winning team.

His wife passed away 12 years back. While his elder son is a doctor based in Canada, his younger son was next to him when he breathed his last. His only daughter is married and based in New Delhi.

Agencies