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Gian
Singh Umpired Hockey at the 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome Olympic
Games.
Born 1st August
1908 in Mehlowala, Sialkot district (now Pakistan).
Gian distinguished
himself as a sports organiser, sports writer and international
hockey umpire.
He
was Honorary Secretary, Baluchistan Hockey Association (1943
to 1945) and held the following offices:
Honorary Treasurer, Delhi Football and Hockey Association –
1951
Honorary Secretary, Delhi Football Referees’ Board –
1953
Honorary Secretary and Vice President, Delhi Hockey Umpire’s
Association.
Manager, Delhi teams for the National Football Championshipa
– 1950 – 1952.
Umpired at the
Privateers International Field Hockey Festival in New York.
Gian umpired
matches in Bermuda, and coached umpires in Malaya, Ceylon and
Spain.
He was a member
of the Privateers Club of U.S.A. since 1961 and was honoured
at the White House with a photograph with President Eisenhower
on November 10, 1960.
As an author
his contribution to sports is the publication of ‘How
to Play Hockey’, ‘Hockey Umpiring’, ‘Hockey
Quiz’ which was also published in Japanese and Spanish.
Gian
was a recognised international coach. He coached the Thailand
National team during the 1970 Asian Games at Bangkok. He coached
the national teams of Malaysia, Spain and the USA as well.
He conducted
coaching and seminars not only in India but also in Malaysia,
Sri Lanka and Spain.
Gian’s
son, Kuku Walia is also an international hockey umpire.
Gian Singh passed
away in Delhi aged 94 years.
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