Jagbir Singh Biography 
Olympian Jagbir Singh is an Indian hockey player who has represented India at international tournaments. He is a recipient of Arjuna Award for hockey by the Government of India in 1990. He played as field hockey Centre Forward for his team and has represented India in two Olympics (1988 & 1992) and 1990 World Cup. He was one of the top players of 1980s and 1990s. In a career spanning to more than a decade between 1985 and 1995, he has represented India at several major tournaments which include two Asian Games (1986 & 1990), the 1989 Asia Cup & Champions trophy. He was described as a 'Striking-circle assassin' during his active years. He also served as a coach of Indian team later.
Jagbir Singh was born on 20 February 1965 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. His father Darshan Singh was a hockey player, and young Jagbir drew inspirations from his father to become a hockey player. Jagbir received coaching in hockey from Guru Gobind Singh Sports College, Lucknow. His active career in national team was between 1985 and 1995, when he was a team member in two Olympics, one world cup, two Asian Games and one Champions trophy. Though India couldn’t bring back its golden era of hockey, Jagbir Singh’s name is always counted among the best players of 1980s and 1990s, for his overall contributions towards Indian hockey.
Post retirement in the late 1990s, he served as a coach of national team and a few other teams as well. He was the main coach of Indian hockey team which played 2004 Olympics in Athens. He has also coached Indian team to play in Pakistan, Spain and France and also Champions Trophy in Lahore. He contributes sport columns to different forms of publications and also acts as a sports commentator.
Published: February 15, 2019
Updated: February 15, 2019
