Sardara Singh

{{Infobox field hockey player

| name = Sardara Singh

| fullname = Sardar Singh

| image = Indian hockey team captain saradara singh with other players at kalinga stadium (cropped).jpg

| caption = Singh with India in 2014

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|7|15|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Santnagar, Sirsa, Haryana, India

| height = 1.82 m{{cite web |url= http://melbourne2006.com.au/Participants/Participants?ID=109553 |title= CWG Melbourne: Player's Profile}}

| weight =

| website =

| position = Halfback

| clubs1 = Chandigarh Dynamos

| years1 = 2005

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| clubs2 = Hyderabad Sultans

| years2 = 2006–2008

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| clubs3 = KHC Leuven

| years3 = 2011

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| clubs4 = Delhi Waveriders

| years4 = 2013–2015

| caps4 = 14

| goals4 = 0

| clubs5 = HC Bloemendaal

| years5 = 2013

| caps5 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| clubs6 = Punjab Warriors

| years6 = 2016

| nationalteam1 = India

| nationalyears1 = 2006–2018

| nationalcaps1 = 314

| nationalgoals1 = 16

| manageryears1 = 2022

| managerclubs1 = India A

| manageryears2 = 2023–

| managerclubs2 = India U17

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{IND}}}}

}}

Sardara Singh (born 15 July 1986), sometimes referred as Sardar Singh, is an Indian field hockey coach and former field hockey player. He also served as the captain of the Indian national team.{{cite news|title=Sardar Singh to lead India at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/sardar-singh-to-lead-india-at-sultan-azlan-shah-cup-5071033/|access-date=26 February 2018|work=The Indian Express|date=20 February 2018}} He usually plays the center half position.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090321050859/http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/15/stories/2009031555771400.htm Sardara Singh strikes form] The Hindu, 15 March 2009. Sardara became the youngest player to captain the Indian team when he led the side at the 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.{{cite news |title= Sardar Singh named captain, Pargat is manager of Indian hockey team |url= http://news.oneindia.in/2008/05/07/sardar-singh-named-captain-pargat-is-manager-of-indian-hockey-team-1210171096.html |work= oneindia |date= 7 May 2008}} He was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015.{{cite web|title=Padma Awards 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128022143/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952|publisher=Press Information Bureau|access-date=25 January 2015|archive-date=28 January 2015|url-status=dead}}

On 13 July 2016, the responsibilities of the captain were handed over from him to P. R. Sreejesh, the goalkeeper of Indian Team.{{cite news|title=Sardar Singh is no longer king of Indian hockey 2016|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/rio-2016-olympics/sardar-singh-is-no-longer-king-of-indian-hockey-2910059/|newspaper=Indian Express|access-date=13 July 2016|date=13 July 2016}} On 12 September 2018, Sardara announced his retirement from international hockey. He played 314 matches during 12 years in his career.{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/sardar-singh-factbox-314-matches-youngest-indian-hockey-captain/articleshow/65791730.cms|title=Sardar Singh retires|date=13 September 2018|work=Times of India|access-date=13 September 2018}}

Early life

Sardara was born in Haryana's village Sant Nagar in Sirsa District{{cite news |title=News18 Hindi News: पढ़ें हिंदी न्यूज़, Latest and Breaking News in Hindi, हिन्दी समाचार, न्यूज़ इन हिंदी - News18 इंडिया |url=https://hindi.news18.com/amp/news/haryana/hisar-rajeev-gndhi-khel-ratan-award-to-sardar-singh-1068455.html |date=4 August 2017|access-date=16 June 2019 |work=News18 India |language=hi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717095936/https://hindi.news18.com/amp/news/haryana/hisar-rajeev-gndhi-khel-ratan-award-to-sardar-singh-1068455.html|archive-date=17 July 2018}} to Gurnam Singh, a RMP doctor, and Jasveer Kaur, a housewife.{{cite news |title=Odds couldn't damp the Sardar spirit |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_CREST&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TCRM/2012/08/04&ID=Ar01201 |access-date=15 September 2017 |work=The Times of India |date=4 August 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170915204023/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_CREST&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TCRM/2012/08/04&ID=Ar01201 |archive-date=15 September 2017 |url-status=dead }}

Career

Sardara Singh made his debut for India in the junior team during India's 2003–04 tour of Poland. He made his senior debut against Pakistan in 2006.{{cite magazine |title= Meet the heroes of Hockey |url= http://menshealth.intoday.in/storyprint.jsp?contentid=3973&sid=5&cid=22 |magazine= Men's Health |access-date= 3 September 2013}} He also plays for his state of Haryana. He is a Deputy Superintendent Police Officer with the Haryana Police and plays for their team.{{cite web |title= Appointment of Sh. Sardar Singh as DSP in Haryana Police |url= http://haryanapolice.nic.in/DSP_in_Sport_Quota_Sh_Sardar_Singh.asp |publisher= Haryana Police}} Singh played for Chandigarh Dynamos in the inaugural season of the Premier Hockey League in 2005. He played for Hyderabad Sultans in the next three seasons till 2008, captaining the side.{{cite news |title= Hyderabad Sultans reach semi-finals |url= http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/phl/20080102.htm |publisher= Rediff |date= 2 January 2008 |access-date= 3 September 2008}}

His brother Didar Singh, a drag flick specialist also played for the Indian team, Haryana and Chandigarh Dynamos.

In 2010, he was included in the 18-men FIH All-Star team. In the same year, Singh was signed by the Belgian club, KHC Leuven to play in the Belgian Hockey League.{{cite news |title= Sardara to play in Belgian Hockey League |url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-27/hockey/28247698_1_qualifiers-sardara-singh-jose-brasa |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130903133339/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-27/hockey/28247698_1_qualifiers-sardara-singh-jose-brasa |url-status= dead |archive-date= 3 September 2013 |date= 27 December 2010 |newspaper= The Times of India |access-date= 3 September 2013}} In 2011, he was again named on the FIH All-Star team.{{Cite web|url=http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/hockey/1008199/sardar_singh.html|title=Glasgow 2014 – Sardar Singh Profile|website=g2014results.thecgf.com|access-date=10 March 2016}} Following Singh's impressive showing at the 2013 Asia Cup, he was signed by the Dutch club HC Bloemendaal as a replacement to Teun de Nooijer.{{cite news |title= Sardar Singh joins Europe's iconic hockey club HC Bloemendaal |url= http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/hockey/213451-sardar-singh-joins-europes-iconic-hockey-club-hc-bloemendaal |publisher= NDTV |date= 3 September 2013 |access-date= 3 September 2013}}

On 13 July 2016, the responsibilities of the captain were handed over from him to P. R. Sreejesh, the goalkeeper of Indian team. He has captained Indian team for 8 years.

He quit the sport in September 2018.{{cite news |title=Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh retires |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/hockey/story/sardar-singh-retirement-international-hockey-1338499-2018-09-12 |access-date=2 September 2020 |work=India Today |date=12 September 2018 |language=en}} In 2019, he was included in a 13-member Hockey India selection committee.{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Retired Sardar Singh named in selection committee of Hockey India {{!}} Hockey News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/retired-sardar-singh-named-in-selection-committee-of-hockey-india/articleshow/67545757.cms |access-date=2 September 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=15 January 2019 |language=en}}

=Hockey India League=

Sardar Singh became the highest-paid marquee player at the inaugural Hockey India League auctions as the Delhi franchise bought him for US$78,000 ({{Indian Rupee}}42,49,000). The Delhi team was named Delhi Waveriders.{{cite news |title= Hockey India League Auction: the final squads list |url= http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hil-auction-as-the-teams-shape-up/310745-5-136.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121219014754/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hil-auction-as-the-teams-shape-up/310745-5-136.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 19 December 2012 |date= 16 December 2012 |access-date= 13 January 2013}} He captained his side to finish on second place in its inaugural season and was awarded the 'Player of the Tournament.'{{cite news |title= Ranchi Rhinos crowned HIL champions |url= http://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/ranchi-rhinos-crowned-hil-champions/article4400729.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 11 February 2013 |access-date= 3 September 2013}} He was honoured with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.

File:Indian hockey team captain saradara sing at kalinga stadium.JPG

=Punjabi Music Industry=

Sardar Singh is making his first Punjabi Music Industry debut by featuring in song ‘Gallan Karraiyan’ by veteran Punjabi singer Hardeep Singh of Shehar Patiale de fame.{{cite news |title= Former Indian Hockey Captain Sardar Singh to Feature in Punjabi Song |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/music/after-milkha-singh-now-hockey-star-sardar-singh-will-feature-in-a-punjabi-song/articleshow/64460462.cms |date= 5 June 2018 |access-date= 20 June 2018}} The song is written by Sukha Wadali and the music is by Jaidev Kumar.

Achievements

Awarded 'Player of Tournament' in the 2012 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where India won the Bronze.{{cite news |title= New Zealand beat Argentina to win Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament |url= http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/new-zealand-beat-argentina-to-win-sultan-azlan-shah-cup-hockey-tournament-1338810437-1 |publisher= Jagran Josh |date= 4 June 2012}}
He was adjudged the Player of the Tournament in the 2012 Summer Olympics Qualifiers, where India won the Gold.
He was adjudged the Player of the Tournament in the 2010 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where India won the Gold.
He participated in Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament in Malaysia in the year 2006 and the team won Bronze Medal.
He participated in SAF Games at Colombo in the year 2006 and the team scored 2nd position.
He participated in 7th Junior Challenge Open Men's at Poland 2006 and scored 2nd position.
He participated in 2007 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge at Belgium 2007 and got Bronze Medal.
He participated in Commonwealth Games 2006 at Melbourne.
He participated in INDO-PAK series 2006.
He participated in Four Nations International Tournament at Germany and the team scored Bronze Medal.
He also participated in Four Nations Hockey Tournament at Lahore and the team win Silver Medal.
He participated in Men's Hockey Asia Cup at Chennai 2007 and the team grabbed Gold Medal.
File:Sardara Singh by Ijas Muhammed Photography.jpgHe participated for India in Canada for the 7 game Test Series against the Canadian National Field Hockey Team

References

External links

[http://hockeyindia.org/team/sardar-singh-2.html Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016130347/http://hockeyindia.org/team/sardar-singh-2.html |date=16 October 2017 }} at Hockey India
{{Olympedia}}
{{Sports-Reference}}

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