Image Source : The Better India
A compelling new book titled "Gunned Down - Murder of an Olympic Champion," authored by acclaimed sports journalist Sundeep Misra, was recently launched in Chandigarh. It traces the extraordinary life, Olympic glory, and unsolved murder of the legendary Indian hockey player Prithipal Singh, famously known as the ‘Penalty King’. This work not only celebrates his sporting achievements but also reopens the conversation on the tragic circumstances surrounding his death in 1983.
Key Highlights of the Book and Story:
Prithipal Singh, one of the world's most feared penalty corner specialists, was a cornerstone of India’s Olympic hockey success, winning silver (1960), gold (1964), and bronze (1968) medals. He was the first hockey player to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award.
Beyond athletics, Singh served as chairman of selectors during India’s victorious 1975 Hockey World Cup campaign and was known for his formidable discipline and commitment to the sport.
His life was cut short in a shocking incident on May 20, 1983, when he was fatally shot at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, where he was serving as dean of student welfare. The killers were reportedly his own students, and the murder remains an unresolved mystery.
The book highlights the complex backdrop of campus unrest, political rivalries, and law enforcement lapses at the time, which contributed to a botched investigation and the case disappearing from public discourse.
Misra’s painstaking six-year research shines a light on Singh’s multifaceted persona—both superlative athlete and humble human being—while questioning official apathy and institutional failures surrounding the assassination.
The narrative reconstructs Singh’s last moments on campus, his personal warnings of threats against him, and the fearful silence that followed the killing despite numerous witnesses.
Prominent figures including Olympic gold medallist Harbinder Singh, former captain Pargat Singh, and hockey legends Dileep Tirkey and Sardar Singh participated in the book launch panel, reflecting on Singh’s legacy and the injustice of his murder.
The book also reflects on how Singh’s murder was overshadowed nationally by the cricket World Cup victory a month later, leading to a collective forgetting of one of India’s greatest sporting heroes.
Misra emphasizes how the book aims not just to recount a chilling crime but to reignite awareness about sporting legends neglected by history and to prompt a reckoning with justice and memory.
Context and Legacy:
Prithipal Singh is remembered as a pioneer who demanded respect, discipline, and excellence. His dominance at the penalty corner and leadership helped define an era of Indian hockey success. The murder echoes as a dark chapter in sports history, emblematic of broader social and political turmoil.
The work situates Singh’s assassination within Punjab’s fraught university politics of the early 1980s, highlighting the intersection of sport, authority, and regional unrest.
Looking Ahead:
The book’s release intends to revive public discourse on unresolved sports-related injustices and investment in protecting athletes beyond their playing days. Misra's next project continues this theme with a fictional take on sports murders, indicating a sustained focus on addressing forgotten stories in Indian sports.
In sum, "Gunned Down - Murder of an Olympic Champion" provides a detailed, empathetic, and haunting account of Prithipal Singh’s life and tragic death, anchoring his legacy firmly within India’s sporting and societal consciousness.
Source: Hindustan Times Chandigarh, Indian Express, Telecom Asia, India Today
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