Proud moments for Patialvies; renowned coach awarded Padma Shri on this Republic day
Kanwar Inder Singh/ January 27,2023
The government of India on Wednesday announced the Padma Awardees of 2023. Padma awards are one of the highest civilian recognitions in the country. This year, a total of 106 awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, have been conferred upon personalities who have excelled in their field. One of them is former first-class cricketer and ex-India coach Gurcharan Singh who was conferred the Padma Shri this year for his contribution to Indian cricket.
Born in Rawalpindi, Gandakas Village (Attock District) on 25 March 1935, Gurcharan Singh came to Patiala as a refugee during the Partition of India in 1947.
He studied in City High school (Now Known as multipurpose school) the only school in India which has produced two Cricket Dronacharya awardees Deshprem Aazaad and Gurcharan Singh.
He studied in Govt Mahindra college Patiala for 4 years (1953- 1957) and played Punjab university all these years and captained Southern Punjab in Ranji Trophy. He started playing cricket under the guidance of Maharaja of Patiala Yadavindra Singh.
Gurcharan Singh was a right-handed batsman and right-arm off break bowler who appeared in 37 first-class matches. The teams he represented include Patiala, Patiala and Eastern Punjab States Union, Southern Punjab and Railways.
Later Gurcharan Singh obtained a coaching diploma from National Institute of Sports in Patiala and became a coach there.
He then became head coach at the Sports Authority of India centre in New Delhi. Some of his notable coaching assignments include coach of North Zone between 1977 and 1983, head coach of Maldives in 1985 and coach of India national team from 1986 to 1987.
Gurcharan Singh is an Indian cricket coach and former first-class cricketer. He coached 12 international and over 100 first-class cricketers, he coached 12 international cricketers including Maninder Singh, Surinder Khanna, Kirti Azad, Vivek Razdan, Gursharan Singh, Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Sanghvi and Murali Kartik.
Proud moments for Patialvies; renowned coach awarded Padma Shri on this Republic day. Gurcharan Singh is the second cricket coach to be awarded the Dronacharya Award. With enough expertise and experience under his belt, he eventually became one of the most successful coaches India has produced.
(royalpatiala.in News)
