In a grand tribute to one of Indian hockey’s finest icons, a life-sized bronze statue of legendary Olympian Surjit Singh was unveiled on Monday at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium. The unveiling ceremony took place on the eve of the Men’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy. The unveiling was jointly performed by Punjab Hockey President Nitin Kohli, Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia, Police Commissioner Satinder Singh, Olympians Harpreet Singh Mander and Baljeet Singh Dhillon, International Hockey Player Jagdeep Singh Gill, and Principal of Physical College Patiala, Dr. Harmanpreet Kaur.
Paying rich tributes, they stated that the statue would serve as a perennial source of inspiration for young, aspiring players. Emphasizing sports as an effective shield to keep youth away from drugs, they highlighted the Punjab Government’s vision, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to revive the state’s pristine sports legacy. Initiatives such as Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan and hosting international sports events reflect this commitment. They also added that the Punjab Government had already dedicated this stadium to this legendary Olympian and now the state government has invested crores of rupees to renovate the stadium with world-class facilities to meet international standards.
Surjit Singh Randhawa was one of the finest player in world hockey, celebrated for his exceptional defensive skills. A pillar of the Indian national team, he represented the country at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, two World Cups, and the 1974 and 1978 Asian Games. His crowning glory came in 1975, when he played a pivotal role in leading India to its historic World Cup victory in Kuala Lumpur. Awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award, his lasting legacy continues to shape Indian hockey.