Avtar
Singh Sohal represented Kenya at the 1960 Rome; 1964 Tokyo;
1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympic Games as a player.
He captained the last three Olympic Games.
He
was the Coach to the Kenya team at the 1984 Los Angeles
Olympic Games.
First
played for Kenya against South Africa in 1957.
Was a member of the Rhodesia Tour in 1961
Captained and toured Pakistan 1962
Captained and played against India and Pakistan, toured India
1964
Captained Zanzibar, Uganda and Tanzania and Zambia Tours.
L
-to-R: Kenya's captain Avtar Singh, Surjeet, goalkeeper Amarjeet
and Indian forward Rajwinder Singh. Photo: Morley Pecker
Played
for Kenya for 15 years and captained the country from 1962 to
1972.
Member
of Development and Coaching Committee of International Hockey
Federation since 1978.
Captained Kenya in the first World Cup in 1971 in Barcelona
where Kenya finished fourth.
Assistant
Coach at the second World Cup 1973 in Amsterdam.
Surjeet
Panesar (L) & Avtar Singh
Avtar's
favourite match is the 4th test match of India v Kenya 1964
series. Kenya beat India 3-0 in Jabalpure test match on April
27, 1964.
The
same Indian Team won the Gold in Tokyo six months later.
Kenya
finished 6th at Tokyo, their best position at Olympic Games.
against
Pakistan at City Park Park Stadium Nairobi.
City
Primary School pupil.
Appeared
in the Guinness Book of Records. The citation in the 184 Guinness
Book of Records read:
‘Most International Appearances: Avtar Singh Sohal (b.
22 March 1938) represented Kenya 167 times between 1957 and
1972.'
Kenya
National Coach and International Umpire.
Coached
Indonesian, Hong Kong and Zimbabwean hockey teams.
Head
Coach of Kenya Hockey Union in 2005.
Vice Chairman Kenya Hockey Union in 2005.
Awarded
‘Head of State Commendation Award’ by President
of Kenya on 12th December 2004.
Awarded
‘Diploma of Merit’ for distinguished services rendered
to the F.I.H. and to Hockey by Juan Angel Calzado, President of
the International Hockey Federation on 23 November 2000.
Kenya's
tour of England 1966
Under
Avtar's captaincy, Kenya beat West Germany twice at the First
Hockey World Cup in Barcelona in 1971.
In
the pool match, on 18 October 1971, Kenya defeated West Germany
3-0 (Jagjit, Avtar & Davinder scoring for Kenya).
In
the play off match for 2nd & 3rd place in Pool A, on 20
October 1971,Kenya defeated West Germany 2 - 1 with Avtar scoring
both Kenya's goals.
Avtar Singh in 1970
Kenya
lost 0 - 1 to hosts Spain on 22 October 1971 in the semi-final
of the First Hockey World Cup.
Pakistan
defeated Spain 1 - 0 to win the World Cup.
In
the play - off match for 3rd/4th place, Kenya lost 1 - 2 after
extra time to India on 23 October 1971. Avtar scored Kenya's
goal.
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