The Mithapur hockey belt of Punjab’s Jalandhar, has givenseveral hockey players to India and one of them is Pargat Singh who is renownedacross the globe for his aggressive attacking style. Not just in hockey, but alsoin politics, the world's top defender at the time vigorously defended hisprinciples and stood firm in his beliefs.
The Punjab Hockey players have given credit of theirhistoric win to MLA Pargat Singh, saying the passion and dedication shown byformer hockey captain and how he rose to greatness after his brilliantperformances in the then Asian Games and Asia Cup, had always been a motivationfor many.
They said from local grounds of Mithapur to playing inOlympics, the journey of Pargat Singh wasn't really easy. He has emerged as anperfect role model and his legacy will be seen as an inspiration for futuregenerations.
Besides, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder also hailed MLA PargatSingh during felicitation ceremony of Punjab Olympic players held recently. Hesaid Punjab Hockey players have rightly walked on the path shown by Singh.
Meanwhile, after Punjab Congress Crisis, this was firsttime Capt Amarinder and Pargat Singh shared a stage together. It was also due to Pargat Singh, the cash reward for Punjab Olympic players was increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.51 crore.
Pargat had always been vocal when it comes to Punjab's development and people's welfare. The Former Olympian has not only achievedmilestones in the hockey field but in politics too. In his first run as apolitician, Pargat had scored an incredible goal, defeating his rival by a hugemargin of votes.
Pargat has been a Congress MLA since 2017, but he neverhesitated to criticise his own party when people's issues are not resolved. Healso made headlines recently when he criticised Punjab Chief Minister AmarinderSingh over failing to act over sacrilege case and not fulfilling pre-pollpromises.
Though Pargat is known to have a calm personality, yet hehad an antagonistic and aggressive attacking style both in hockey and politics.With CM praising him for being an inspiration to sports players, people inpolitical circles look upto him as a great politician.
Moreover, Padma Shri awardee Pargat Singh is one of a fewpoliticians with the cleanest image. Just like on the hockey field, Pargat hasscored milestones in politics by working hard. Recognized for his unapologeticopinions and hard work, here’s everything about the former hockey player andPunjab politician Pargat Singh.
On March 5, 1965, Pargat Singh was born into a farmerfamily. When he was born his parents, S. Gurdev Singh and Naseeb Kaur had noidea that one day he would become a national hero and entire country wouldcheer for him.
Pargat was passionate about hockey since his childhood.He used to listen to hockey commentary on the radio. Aside from hockey, Pargatwas also interested in academics. His mother remembers his taking his book withhim to hockey camp and studying there.
Pargat did his schooling from Government High School,Mithapur (now, Higher secondary school). He attended Sports School in Jalandharbefore joining Lyallpur Khalsa College in Jalandhar.
From the Khalsa college itself, his international hockeycareer took off.
Pargat was a member of the college hockey team and playedin various matches- intra university and inter university competitions, etc.Pargat was chosen for the national camp from the combined university matches,and he hasn't looked back since.
Beginningof career in Hockey
He was initially a member of the junior Indian team.Pragat Singh's elevation to the senior hockey team was a logical and equitablestep, as he was quickly establishing himself as a skilled player.
In 1983, Pargat Singh played his first internationaltournament against Hong Kong in Hongkong. When Pargat was selected for thistournament, he was just 18 years old and represented team India internationally.
Since then, Pargat Singh’s skill helped the Indian hockeyteam win numerous matches, but, it was his performance in the 1985 ChampionsTrophy match that made him a national hero.
India was placed against Germany, the finest team in theworld and was behind 5-1 as German hockey players scored one goal afteranother. Pargat Singh moved forward and dribbled the ball with only a fewminutes left in the game.
Pargat salvaged the Indian team's match by scoring fourgoals in less than six minutes. Even though the match ended in a draw, Pargatwon a spot in the hearts of Indian sports fans after only 6 minutes of action.
Pargat did not rest on his laurels. In the 1986 ChampionsTrophy in Karachi, Pakistan, he repeated the same performance against Holland.India defeated Holland 3-2 because of his outstanding performance.
Fast forwarding, in 1989, he received the Arjuna award.Pargat was named India's captain for the 1990 World Cup in Lahore the followingyear. He captained the Asia team that won the inaugural Inter-ContinentTournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the same year.
At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, India's captainwas Pargat Singh. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, he captained thenational team yet again.
He is the first Indian captain to lead the team in twoOlympic tournaments. He holds the record for most matches played (168) asCaptain. He has played 313 matches in total.
In 1997, Pargat Singh announced his retirement frominternational hockey saying he had no regrets.
Pargat participated in three Olympic Games (1988, 1992,and 1996), two World Cups (1986, 1990), and two Asian Games (1986, 1990). Hemay have added one to each of those totals if it hadn't been for his retirementor self-imposed exile following the Barcelona Olympics.
Dhyan Chand, the greatest hockey player of all time, isPargat Singh's idol. Surjit Singh Randhawa is also a role model to him.
Pargat attributes his incredible success in hockey to hiscoaches and role models. He believes that he only made it to such heightsbecause he had incredible coaches who constantly taught him discipline andbacked him in every step of the way.
Awards
Besides winning numerous medals and championships forIndia, the legendary hockey player was honoured with Indian National Award,‘Padma Shri' in 1998 (a year after he retired from International Hockey).
Earlier in 1989, he had received the Indian NationalAward, 'Arjuna Puraskar'.
Pargat’scareer after retiring from Hockey
Even after retirement, Pargat's career in hockey was notover. In 1997, at the age of 33, he was selected to the FIH Athletes Panel.Following year, Pargat was named coach of the Indian Hockey Men's Team in 1998.
Pargat Singh has affiliations in Punjab Police, RailCoach Factory, Indian Railways. He also worked as a DSP with the Punjab Police.
Pargat Singh at the age of 39 became the youngestDirector of Sport in Punjab in 2005.
In 2012, Pargat Singh quit as Sports department directorand joined then ruling party in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal, running forJalandhar Cantt seat in the state Assembly elections.
Later, he quit SAD and joined hands with Navjot SinghSidhu who is now Punjab Congress president, along with some other leaders andannounced the launch of a political front, Awaaz-e-Punjab in 2016.
Now, Pargat Singh is Congress MLA from Jalandhar Canttconstituency.