Baljit Singh Dhillon (India)
Baljit Dhillon
Born 18.6.1973 at Padhri, nr Amritsar
School / University Sri Khalsa College, Jalandhar
Profession Police Officer, Punjab Police
Club(s) Punjab Police
Playing Position Forward
First International 1993 v South Africa
Last International  
International Caps 327
Olympic Goals scored 5
Hockey Idol  

Olympic Games:

Baljit Singh Dhillon represented India at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games where India finished 8th; 2000 Sydney Olympic Games where India finished 7th and 2004 Athens Olympic Games where India finished 7th.

Games
City
Phase
Match
Date
Result
Goals
1996 Atlanta Group A
3
20.07.1996 India 0 - Argentina 1
0
1996 Atlanta Group A
5
22.07.1996 India 1- Germany 1
0
1996 Atlanta Group A
7
24.07.1996 India 4 - USA 0
0
1996 Atlanta Group A
11
26.07.1996 India 0 - Pakistan 0
0
1996 Atlanta Group A
15
28.07.1996 India 3 - Spain 1
0
1996 Atlanta Class 5/8
1
31.07.1996 India 3 - Korea 3
0
1996 Atlanta Final Class 7/8
1
01.08.1996 India 3 - Great Britain 4
1
Final Standing: 8th
2000 Sydney Group B
3
17.09.2000 India 3 - Argentina 0
0
2000 Sydney Group B
6
19.09.2000 India 2 - Australia 2
1
2000 Sydney Group B
7
21.09.2000 India 0 - Korea 2
0
2000 Sydney Group B
10
23.09.2000 India 3 - Spain 2
2
2000 Sydney Group B
15
26.09.2000 India 1 - Poland 1
0
2000 Sydney Class 5/8
1
28.09.2000 India 1 - Great Britain 2
0
2000 Sydney Final Class 7/8
1
29.09.2000 India 3 - Argentina 1
0
Final Standing: 7th
2004 Athens Group B
3
15.08.2004 India 1 - Netherlands 3
0
2004 Athens Group B
5
17.08.2004 India 4 - S. Africa 2
1
2004 Athens Group B
9
19.08.2004 India 3 - Australia 4
0
2004 Athens Group B
10
21.08.2004 India 1 - New Zealand 2
0
2004 Athens Group B
14
23.08.2004 India 2 - Argentina 2
0
2004 Athens Class 5/8
2
25.08.2004 India 0 - Pakistan 3
0
2004 Athens Final Class 7/8
1
27.08.2004 India 5 - Korea 2
0
Final Standing: 7th
Baljit Singh Dhillon

Baljit's association with hockey begun early in life. He was only eight years old when he started to play. He did his schooling from D.K.M. School, Jalandhar, and proved to be a natural with the hockey stick.

He represented his State in the National Schools Championship and his university in the Inter-University Championship.

Baljit is a product of Punjab Sports Hostel

Baljit at Athens Olympics

A forward of exceptional ability, Baljit has played both as inside-left and centre-forward, moving to the left-winger’s position in the Asian Games in Hiroshima where he scored the winning goal over South Korea in the pool match.

Baljit was also a prominent member of the Indian team in the Asia Cup, also at Hiroshima, again finishing second to South Korea.

A regular member of the Punjab Police team in the various tournaments, he has done exceptionally well for the State team at both the junior and senior Nationals.

Baljit Singh Dhillon
Baljit at Sydney Olympics
Baljit Dhillon

He made his international debut in 1993 during a test series with South Africa where he scored six goals.

He represented India at the 1995 Berlin and 2003 Amstelveen Champions Trophy

He represented India at 1998 Bangkok Asian Games where India won Gold and the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games where India won Silver.

 

He played for India at the 1993 Hiroshima, 1999 Kuala Lumpur (Captain) and the 2003 Kuala Lumpur Asia Cup

He represented India at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, scoring 6 goals (top scorer for India).

He Captained India at the 2000 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, scoring 4 goals.

Baljit Singh Dhillon
Baljit celebrating a goal at Sydney Olympics
Baljit Dhillon

He Captained India Gold Medal team at the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Champions Challenge tournament where he won the Man of the Final award.

Baljit has represented India at the Champions’ Trophy in Berlin, the Indira Gandhi International at Lucknow in 1993, South Asian Federation Games – 1995 (Madras), Sultan Azlan Shah Cup – 1996 (Ipoh) and the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1998.

Dhillon is a deadily striker of the ball. His patented reverse shots are nightmares for goal-keepers. He scores on single touch, crucial tool to break packed defences.

 

His brother, Daljeet is also a Hockey International player.

He received the Indian National Award ‘Arjuna Puraskar’ in 1998.

In October 1999 he was selected for the FIH President's X1 in a match against the World Champions Netherlands to celebrate FIH's 75th Anniversary. He scored a goal in that match.

Baljit Dhillon
Baljit at Athens Olympics
Baljit Dhillon in 1998

Photo on left:

Pakistan left half, Waseem Ahmed (left), was out-run and out-manoevred by Baljit Dhillon during the India-Pakistan test series in 1998.

 

Baljit and Ramandeep Singh in 1998