Prithipal Singh: Here’s why the hockey player deserves a biopic

The world’s most feared penalty corner specialist, who had participated in three Olympics and won a medal each time, was Prithipal Singh. However, his meteoric rise to the firmament of fame and adulation was shortlived. He was shot dead by his own students in broad daylight in the campus of the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, in the year, 1983. Debutante director, Babita Puri, is making a biopic on the legend. With this film she will be the first woman director to direct a Bollywood sports biopic.

A life of hockey
Prithipal was born in Nankana Sahib (now in Pakistan) in the year, 1932. He was a meritorious student and won numerous academic accolades. Prithipal represented the Agricultural college in the Ludhiana hockey team from the year 1950 to 1956. This was the beginning of his stint with hockey. He was appointed as the captain of the team in the year, 1955. He was bestowed with the Roll of Honors for his all-round achievements in sports and education. It was during the Rome Olympics in the year, 1960, that he scored two hat-tricks in the matches against Denmark and Netherlands. He was the top scorer and was also the best full-back player. He was lovingly called the ‘King of short corner’ by commentators.

He wore many hats

Hockey was not the only thing he was good at. His father, Sardar Wadhawa Singh Chandi, was a school teacher as well as an agriculturist. Being an excellent academic student, he was also a post-graduate in agriculture. He had worked for Punjab Police and the Indian Railways as well. The former acknowledged his mettle and achievement in the field of hockey. He was conferred with the Railway Minister's Medal in 1965 for being the Best Railway Sportsman.

He had his share of downtime

Not everything was a smooth sail for Prithipal. He was a witness to the huge blow to the Indian hockey scenario. In Rome, India lost for the first time in Olympics. In Mexico City, when the team finished third, Indian hockey had to bite the dust. Prithipal and his fellow players were criticised and blamed for creating a negative environment in the team.

His share of Gold, Silver and Bronze

Every performer is bound to see both good and bad times. Same was the case with Prithipal. He had participated in three Olympic games, winning Gold in the Tokyo Olympics, Silver in Rome and Bronze in Mexico. It is worth mentioning here that in the Tokyo Olympics, India had scored a total of 22 goals and out of these, 10 were scored by Prithipal alone. It was only after the Mexico Olympics that Prithipal officially retired from active hockey.

Other achievements
The Indian Government, too, recognised his contribution to the Indian Hockey scene and the first-ever Arjuna award that was awarded to a hockey player was given to him in the year, 1961, by the then Indian President, Rajendra Prasad. In the year 1967, he was awarded with the Padma Shri (the fourth highest civilian award) by the then Indian President, Zakir Hussain, for his outstanding achievement in the world of Indian hockey. Singh also was member of the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, and also a member of the governing body of Lakshmi Bai College of Physical Education, Gwalior. He was appointed as the Director of Sports, Punjab Agricultural University as well as the Director of Student Welfare since 1968 and used to actively participate in all student welfare related programs until his death.