Inder Singh
Football Player (B.1943)
The celebrated king of soccer, striker Inder Singh will go down in the annals of Indian football as a legend. He has been rightly described as "Pele" of Punjab. He is one Sikh footballer who has brought immense glory to the state. Speed and skill were the chief weapons of his game. He pounced upon the ball like a panther and when he went on an attacking spree he put any defence out of gear. He trapped the ball with remarkable skill and scored from acute angles. It was with this nerve that in the 1974 National Football Championship of Jalandhar Inder Singh alone netted 2 goals in the championship.
He earned the distinction of leading the Indian football team thrice. In 1969 he became the first Punjab player to play in the Asian All-Star team. He was presented the Arjuna Award in 1969. Inder Singh studied at Government High School, Phagwara. He attended his first Punjab school soccer camp in 1959 where the camp-in-charge was Joginder Singh. He was quick to learn. From 1959 to 1961 he represented Punjab in the All-India School Games. In 1960 and 1961 he was declared the best player and highest scorer in the School Games. In 1962 he joined Leaders Club (Jalaudhar) .
The same year he represented Punjab in the Santosh Trophy at Bangalore. In 1963 he was selected in the Indian team which played in the pre-Olympic meet in Iran and at Calcutta. The same year he played in the Asia Cup at Tel Aviv where in the final Israll defeated India 2-0. Then he played in Merdeka soccer at Kuala Lumpur where India finished second. In 1966 Inder Singh toured Burma and played in the Asian Games at Bangkok. In 1969 he was named skipper of the Indian team to play in Merdeka soccer. Next year’s Merdeka turned unlucky for him as he badly injured his knee.
Inder Singh, was recalled to the coaching camp in 1971-72 but could not attend it because he was not fully fit. In 1973 he again led India in Merdeka. In 1975 he captained India in the Hakim Gold Cup Tournament in Indonesia. Playing against South Korea, he broke his right arm.
Since 1975 he has not played for India. From 1962 to 77 he continuously represented Punjab. In 1972 he left Leaders Club and jointed Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills (Phagwara).
Inder Singh who was born in 1943 has been with the J.C.T. Mills (Phagwara).
Source: TheSikhEncyclopedia.Com