View source for Ajit Pal Singh

{{short description|Indian field hockey player}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2012}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
| name                = Ajit Pal Singh
| fullname            = Ajit Pal Singh Kular
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1947|04|01}}
| birth_place         = [[Sansarpur]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| position            = [[Midfielder|Halfback]]
| height              = {{convert|5|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/ajitpal-singh-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235300/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/ajitpal-singh-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-17 |title=Player's Profile}}</ref>
| medaltemplates-expand = yes
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[field hockey]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{IND}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Field hockey at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }} [[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalBronze | [[1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Mexico City]] | [[Field hockey at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Team]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]] | [[Field hockey at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Team]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Hockey World Cup]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1975 Men's Hockey World Cup|1975 Kuala Lumpur]] | Team }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1973 Men's Hockey World Cup|1973 Amsterdam]] | Team }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1971 Men's Hockey World Cup|1971 Barcelona]] | Team }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Asian Games]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1970 Asian Games|1970 Bangkok]] | [[Field hockey at the 1970 Asian Games|Team ]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1974 Asian Games|1974 Tehran]] | [[Field hockey at the 1974 Asian Games|Team]] }}
}}

'''Ajit Pal Singh Kular''' (also spelled '''Ajitpal Singh''', born 1 April 1947<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/personalities/sports/ajitpal_singh.html |title=Sikh-History.com |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916204754/http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/personalities/sports/ajitpal_singh.html |archive-date=16 September 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>) was an Indian professional [[field hockey]] player from [[Sansarpur]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]. He was the captain of the Indian hockey team. He was conferred the [[Arjuna Award]] in 1970, and awarded it in 1972. He played at centre half position. He was captain of the Indian team at the Hockey World Cup 1975 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

He represented India in three Olympics from 1968 through 1976, winning bronze medals in his first two Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/ajitpal-singh-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235300/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/ajitpal-singh-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-17 |title=Ajitpal Singh}}</ref> He was appointed India's [[chef de mission]] for [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. It was the first time that a sports person was given this opportunity, as earlier this position went to either politicians or administrators.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-04-02|title=Ajit Pal Singh named Indian Chef-de-Mission|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/239075/ajit-pal-singh-named-indian.html|access-date=2021-06-16|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> However he could not make it to the event due to severe [[spondylitis]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/article3691327.ece |title=Brigadier Raja named India's acting Chef-de-Mission |date=27 July 2012 |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu}}</ref> Seven member IOA, Indian Olympic Association Committee selected in April 2012 Ajit Pal Singh as Chef de Mission for Indian mission in London 2012 Olympics. He is also at present the organising member of All India Balwant Singh Kapur Hockey Tournament for Mata Parkash Kaur Cup held every year for school boys under-16. He is a recipient of the civilian honour of [[Padma Shri]] (1992).<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Singh was born on 1 April 1947 at Sansarpur, a small village near [[Jalandhar Cantonment]] of Punjab, which was famous as a breeding ground for the hockey stars as this village had been home to a number of international hockey players who had done the nation proud with their commendable performance in the game. As a young man he joined the newly raised [[Border Security Force|Border Security Force(BSF)]] and captained the Hockey team of BSF. Under his captaincy BSF hockey team lifted the Nehru Trophy in 1975. He left the force as an [[Assistant commandant|Assistant Commandant.]]
[[File:Ar fincantieri 2009 celeste.jpg|thumb|Ajit Pal Singh with team members In 2008-09 ]]

== Domestic hockey ==
At the age of 7 or 8 years, little Ajit had been handed over a hockey stick by his uncle. He studied at the Cantonment Board Higher Secondary School, Jalandhar Cantonment and at the age of 16 years represented the Punjab State Schools Hockey team in 1963. During his initial days, Ajit used to play at the Full Back position. He moved to the [[Lyallpur Khalsa College]], [[Jalandhar]] in 1964, and stayed there for a period of 4 years leading the college to 3 victories in the Punjab University College tournament. It was here that Ajit shifted from Full Back to Center Half, his real position. He was named the Captain of Punjab University Hockey team in 1966, and represented Indian Universities' Hockey team in 1968.

==International hockey==
Ajit Pal Singh made his debut in International Hockey with a tournament played at Bombay in 1960. He was selected in the Indian Hockey team that visited Japan in 1966, and participated in the Pre-Olympic tournament held in London the next year. Further, he played in the Olympic Games Mexico 1968 and delivered a brilliant performance although the Indian Hockey squad stood at 3rd spot at the event. Ajit played for the Indian Hockey team at Bangkok Asian Games 1970, and was named the Captain of the Indian squad that played at Post Shuan Tournament held at Singapore in 1971, and Tehran Asian Games 1974. The Indian team managed to grab a Silver Medal at both the events. He was a part of the Indian squad at Munich Olympic Games 1972, where the team finished at 3rd spot getting a Bronze Medal. He led the Indian Hockey team to World Cup Hockey tournament held at Kuala Lumpur in 1975 leading the team to win the tournament and also at Montreal Olympic Games 1976 where the Indian team fared really badly and finished at the 7th spot. After this debacle, Ajit Pal Singh retired from International Hockey, although he participated in his last International Hockey event in 1980 at Champions Trophy Tournament, Karachi. Even after his retirement from International Hockey, Ajit continued to play in Domestic Hockey Circuit for Border Security Force (B.S.F.) team.

==Awards==
As an honour for his outstanding contribution to Indian Hockey, Ajit Pal Singh was conferred upon the Arjuna Award in 1970. Further, he was also bestowed upon the Padma Shri award in 1992.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Indian hockey captains in Olympics]]
* [[Field hockey in India]]
* [[India men's national field hockey team]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Olympedia}}
<!-- * {{Sports reference}} already in References & current website Olympedia displayed -->

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Sports}}
{{Navboxes
|title=India squads
| bg = #0077FF
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|list1=
{{India FH Squad 1968 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FH Squad 1970 Asian Games}}
{{India FH Squad 1971 World Cup}}
{{India FH Squad 1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FH Squad 1973 World Cup}}
{{India FH Squad 1974 Asian Games}}
{{India FH Squad 1975 World Cup}}
{{India FH Squad 1976 Summer Olympics}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Ajit Pal}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1968 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Indian male field hockey players]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for India]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1970 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1974 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Jalandhar]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Punjab]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1970 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1974 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Dhyan Chand Award]]
[[Category:Punjab Lok Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists in field hockey]]