New Delhi: Veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh will be honored with the prestigious Padma Shri award. Draupadi Marmu On 25 May for his outstanding contribution to Indian hockey. Singh is widely credited for transforming the small town of Shahabad Markanda in Haryana into a major hub for producing elite hockey players.The 75-year-old first arrived in Shahabad-Markanda in 1982 as a coach with the Haryana sports department. After returning to the city in 1993, he helped build India’s most successful hockey academy, producing over 80 international players and eight Indian captains over the years.Before becoming a coach, Singh played for the Namdhari hockey team and later completed a coaching diploma from the National Institute of Sports in Bengaluru. His coaching journey soon saw him play an important role in Indian hockey.He served as the chief coach and selector of the Indian junior men’s team in 1993 and later became the assistant coach of the Indian team that won the Champions Trophy in Chennai in 1996. From 2001 to 2004, he served as the head coach of the Indian men’s hockey team.Under his guidance, India won the gold medal in the Asia Cup in 2004. He also coached the national team during major international tournaments including the Champions Trophy in Holland.For more than 40 years, Baldev Singh has quietly contributed to Indian hockey behind the scenes. Apart from coaching, he has worked with universities and sports organizations to develop young talent.He was also part of the Center’s Olympic Task Force, which helped develop long-term plans for the Tokyo, Paris and Los Angeles Olympic Games. His contribution is seen as the main reason for the emergence of hockey talent from Haryana and North India.
