Prithipal Singh

Prithipal Singh

Singh at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Born	(1932-01-28)28 January 1932 Nankana Sahib, British India
Died	20 May 1983(1983-05-20) (aged 51) Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	71 kg (157 lb)
Playing position	Halfback
Senior career
Years	Team
	Punjab Police[1]
National team
Years	Team	Caps	Goals
	India
Medal record Representing  India Olympic Games 1960 Rome Team 1964 Tokyo Team 1968 Mexico Team Asian Games 1962 Jakarta Team 1966 Bangkok Team

Prithipal Singh (28 January 1932 – 20 May 1983) was an Indian field hockey player who played as a halfback. He was a member of the India national team that won a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and silver and bronze at the 1960 Rome Olympics and bronze at the 1968 Mexico Olympics respectively.

Singh was nicknamed the 'King of short corner' by hockey commentators.^[2] He was known for sharp reflexes, tremendous strength in his long and powerful arms produced firm and sticking shots which unfailingly fetched him goals and often the winners.^[2] The Evening Post (New Zealand) commented in 1961 that to face the fury of Prithipal's hit is to risk one's life.^{[citation needed]} Another author commented that if Arjuna was the maharathi (great warrior) of the Mahabharata war, Prithipal was the maharathi of the International Hockey game.^{[citation needed]} The first-ever Arjuna Award to a hockey player was conferred upon him in 1961, which was later followed by the Padma Shri in 1967.^[2]