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Varinder Singh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 16, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth16 May 1947

Age75 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceDhannowali, Jalandhar, Punjab, India

ProfessionField Hockey Player, Coach

NationalityIndian

Varinder Singh Biography

Varinder Singh was an Indian field hockey player best known as a member of India’s 1975 Hockey World Cup–winning side. A right-half during the 1970s, hewon

Early life and background

Varinder Singh was born on 16 May 1947 in the village of Dhannowali near Jalandhar in Punjab. He grew up in the region that later became part of independent India and developed an early passion for hockey, taking up formal training in his teenage years.

Career

Varinder emerged through domestic ranks in the 1960s, earning selection to the Indian Railways hockey team where he played alongside established names of the era. By the early 1970s he had become regarded as one of India’s leading right-half players, noted for his performances in national competitions such as the Nehru Gold Cup and the National Championships.

His international debut came at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he was named as a reserve and went on to be part of the Indian squad that secured the Olympic bronze medal. He remained a regular presence in the national side through the decade, contributing to India’s continental and global campaigns. Varinder was part of the team that won silver at the 1973 Men’s Hockey World Cup in Amsterdam and played an important role in the run-up to India’s historic triumph at the 1975 Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, where India defeated Pakistan in the final. At that tournament he featured in key matches, including India’s 3–1 pool-stage win over Germany.

At multi-sport continental events Varinder helped India to silver medals at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran and again at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok. He also represented India at the 1975 Montreal Olympics.

After retiring as a player, Varinder turned to coaching. He worked with several coaching institutions and spent more than eight years coaching the Punjab and Sind Bank hockey team. In 2007 he received the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to Indian hockey. From 2008 until 2021 he served as a coach with the Punjab Sports department. In 2021 he joined Lyallpur Khalsa College for Women in Jalandhar as a hockey coach and also trained players at the Round Glass Hockey Academy in Jalandhar.

Public profile

Varinder Singh was remembered by peers, students and administrators as a disciplined and modest coach who remained closely involved with the sport long after his playing days. Former teammates and contemporaries spoke of his duels with other top domestic players of the time and praised his abilities at right-half. Students routinely highlighted his punctuality, his habit of arriving early for training, and the intensity with which he prepared younger players. Several accounts from those he coached describe him traveling daily to training sessions and encouraging a positive, resilient attitude in practice.

Legacy and recognition

His career highlights include an Olympic bronze medal (1972), Asian Games silver medals (1974 and 1978), and being a member of India’s 1975 World Cup-winning squad—the only Indian men’s team to win the Hockey World Cup. The Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 stands as formal recognition of his long service to the sport as both player and coach.

Latest updates

Varinder Singh passed away on 28 June 2022 in Jalandhar at the age of 75. His death was mourned by the Indian hockey community, including Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation, which paid tribute to his contributions. His last rites were performed in his native village Dhannowali, where young players and colleagues gathered to honor him by raising their hockey sticks in tribute.

Varinder’s influence continued through the players he coached, including athletes who reached national and international levels, and through the many young players who recall his lessons on discipline, enjoyment of practice, and the mental approach required to succeed in the sport.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Varinder Singh, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Coach, Lyallpur Khalsa College for Women, Jalandhar

Hockey coach working with college students and training at Round Glass Hockey Academy, Jalandhar.

2021
Coach, Punjab Sports Department

Appointed coach and served in the Punjab Sports department.

2008-2021
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Career Highlights

  1. Bronze medal, 1972 Munich Olympics
  2. Silver medal, 1973 Men’s Hockey World Cup (Amsterdam)
  3. Gold medal, 1975 Men’s Hockey World Cup (Kuala Lumpur)
  4. Silver medals, 1974 and 1978 Asian Games
  5. Played at the 1975 Montreal Olympics
  6. Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Varinder Singh born?

Varinder Singh was born on 16 May 1947.

What is Varinder Singh known for?

Varinder Singh is known for field Hockey Player, Coach.