Harbail Singh was India's Team Coach at the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games where India won the Gold medals.

He also Umpired at the 1956 Melbourne and the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.

Harbail was born on 9 March 1909 in Khushab (now Pakistan).

He had a very rich career in hockey. A top class educationist, a fine all-round sportsman and an experienced hockey umpire and coach, he played an important role in the hockey history of India.

In 1935 he accompanied the Indian Hockey team to New Zealand and Australia.

He was Director of Physical Education of Khalsa College, Amritsar, for a number of years before partition.

After 1947, he was Director of Physical Education in Brijendra College, Faridkot, Randhir College, Kapurthala, and Mehendra College, Patiala.

From there he was selected Assistant Director of Public Instruction, Punjab,

Prior to his death, he was with the Physical Education of N.C.C.

Sadly Harbail died when his plane crashed while returning to India after he had umpired the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.