View source for Harbinder Singh

{{short description|Indian field hockey player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}}
{{MedalTableTop | name = no | medals = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[field hockey]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{IND}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }} [[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalGold | [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Tokyo]] | [[Field hockey at the 1964 Summer Olympics|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Mexico]] | [[Field hockey at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]] | [[Field hockey at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Asian Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1966 Asian Games|1966 Bangkok]] | [[Field hockey at the 1966 Asian Games|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1970 Asian Games|1970 Bangkok]] | [[Field hockey at the 1970 Asian Games|Team competition]] }}
}}

'''Harbinder Singh''' (born 8 July 1943 in [[Quetta]]<ref>[https://stick2hockey.com/hockey-player/harbinder-singh/ Hockey player Harbinder Singh] ''stick2hockey.com''. Retrieved 4 September 2021</ref>) is a former [[field hockey]] player from [[India]]. He started his international career in 1961 at the age of 18 years [youngest member of the team] with a tour to [[New Zealand]] and [[Australia]] with [[india men's national field hockey team|Indian hockey team]]. During the span of 12 years from 1961 to 1972 had represented the country in three [[Olympics]] – Tokyo 1964 — gold medal (scored highest field goals – 5 out of 9 goals), Mexico 1968 — bronze medal (scored highest field goals – 6 out of 11, including hat-trick against Mexico) and was also selected as a centre forward in the "[[World XI (field hockey)|World XI]]", in Munich 1972 — bronze medal.<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/off-the-field/i-feel-just-as-happy-today-as-i-did-when-i-won-gold-in-tokyo-in-1964-hockey-legend-harbinder-singh/articleshow/85062088.cms I feel just as happy today as I did when I won gold in Tokyo in 1964: Hockey legend Harbinder Singh] ''The Times of India''. Retrieved 4 September 2021</ref>

==Career==
He represented the country in three [[Asian Games]] at Bangkok 1966—won Gold Medal, again at [[Bangkok]] 1970 won silver medal and was captain of the team and at Seoul 1986 as chief coach of the Indian Women's hockey team and won the bronze medal.<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/harbinder-singh-india-hockey-1964-olympics-6374806/lite/ Avengers of 1964 who reclaimed gold in last Tokyo Olympics] ''Indian Express''. Retrieved 4 September 2021</ref>

He also represented India in two international hockey tournaments at Lyons, France, in 1963, and Hamburg, Germany, in 1966, winning the gold medal at both places. At Hamburg, scored 4 goals out of 8 field goals in the tournaments. He represented the country in Pre-Olympic hockey tournament at London in 1967 and won the bronze medal.{{fact|date=September 2022}}

Singh represented Punjab state and [[Railways Sports Promotion Board|Indian Railways]] in the National Hockey Championships from 1961–1972 and won 8 Gold and 2 Silver Medals as an active player and as a coach of the Indian Railways Hockey Team from 1975–1993 won 8 Gold and 4 Silver Medals.{{fact|date=September 2022}}

He represented Punjab in the National Athletic Championship at Trivandrum in 1959 and won the gold medal in the 4x100M Relay Race in juniors. He also represented Indian Railways in the All India Open Athletic Championship at Sangrur [Punjab] in 1967 and won the gold medal in 4x100M Relay Race. It is a very rare feat to win gold medals in two different sports, i.e., hockey and athletics.{{fact|date=September 2022}}

==Awards and honours==
He was conferred with '[[Arjuna Award]]' in 1967, 'Railway Minister Award' in 1966 and 'Best Sportsman Of The Railways' in 1972.

He was member of the Selection Committee of [[Indian Hockey Federation]] for juniors [1980-1984 and 1994–1998] and Women Hockey Federation for juniors and seniors [2004–2009]. Presently he is the member of the Selection Committee of '[[Hockey India]]' and was Manager of the Indian Junior Men Hockey Team toured to Kenya [1984].

Being a sprinter he was the fastest centre forward in the 1960s and 1970s. In an interview to the print media Shri. [[K.D. Singh Babu]], chief coach Indian Hockey team in the [[1972 Munich Olympics]] observed that "Harbinder is still the fastest of the Indian Forwards". He was capable of scoring goals by picking up ball from centre line, beating host of defenders with sheer speed, dash and artistry on many occasions. Worth mentioning goals are an equalizer against Pakistan within 20 seconds at Hamburg 1966, stunned each player and spectator and also scored two goals against Holland. Scored two goals against Australia in Pre-Olympics at [[Lord's]] [London] in 1967 and was mentioned in print media as "Harbinder's both goals with great dash and surely the bowler hatted monocle occupant of the [[Long Room]] at [[Lord's]] will talk of him in years to come in same admiring terms as of [[Tom Graveney|Graveney]] and [[Sobers]]"{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}{{Clarify|date=November 2019|"besides the English being mangled (which I corrected in 1 instance) it could well have been said but 1a cite would help"}} and 1 goal in same manner against Germany in the [[1968 Mexico Olympics]].

He earned the distinction to replace such Olympic centre forwards as Major [[Dhyan Chand]] and [[Balbir Singh senior]].

He associated with the game of Hockey for the last 54 years since 1961 serving the Nation for the promotion of Hockey as a Player, Coach, Selector, Organiser and Govt. Observer.

He won 36 Gold, 8 Silver and 4 Bronze Medals in various National and International Competitions during his sports career.

=== Padma Shri ===
In 2024, Harbinder Singh was honored with the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth-highest civilian award, in recognition of his distinguished contributions in his field.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-29 |title=Hockey India congratulates Harbinder Singh on winning prestigious Padma Shri |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/hockey/hockey-india-congratulates-harbinder-singh-on-winning-prestigious-padma-shri-101706501663390.html |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-26 |title=Padma Awards winners: Olympic gold medallist, Grand Slam-winner, Mallakhamb flagbearer honoured |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/padma-awards-winners-olympic-gold-medallist-grand-slam-winner-mallakhamb-flagbearer-honoured/articleshow/107173103.cms |access-date=2024-04-09 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{databaseolympics}}
*{{Sports reference}}
*{{Olympedia}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Sports}}
{{Navboxes
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{{India FH Squad 1964 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FH Squad 1966 Asian Games}}
{{India FH Squad 1968 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FH Squad 1970 Asian Games}}
{{India FH Squad 1972 Summer Olympics}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Harbinder}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male field hockey players]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for India]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1964 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1964 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1968 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1966 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1970 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1966 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1970 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists in field hockey]]