District Sports Officer (DSO) Gurpreet Singh, who has excelled as a player, coach, and now a sports administrator, believes each phase of his journey has uniquely prepared him to serve sports. Taking charge as DSO in Jalandhar in August 2025, he is completing a year in office marked by significant developments in the district's sports sector.
Key Achievements Under His Tenure
Jalandhar is gearing up to host an international-level event as Punjab prepares to organize the Asian Hockey Championship for the first time. Another major achievement is the upgradation of the historic State School of Sports, Jalandhar, into a Punjab Institute of Sports (PIS) Centre of Excellence, marking a new chapter in nurturing sporting talent.
A Lifelong Connection to Sports
Reflecting on his journey, Singh said sports have always been part of his life. "My father was a football player and later served in the Punjab Police before retiring. I started playing hockey at age 10 but later switched to boxing. I played at the national level, after which my coaches encouraged me to join NIS Patiala, where I completed a diploma in boxing," he said.
Singh began his professional coaching career in 2011 as the Chief Boxing Coach at Lovely Professional University. In 2016, he joined the Punjab Sports Department as a junior coach and, after years of coaching, was promoted to District Sports Officer in 2023. "Nothing in my life was planned. I would say life took the decisions for me," he remarked.
Coaching Remains His Passion
Despite his administrative responsibilities, Singh says coaching remains the role closest to his heart. "Being a coach is the most challenging yet the most satisfying role. A coach carries the responsibility of shaping a player's life, motivating them, helping them overcome defeats, and constantly giving them new goals to achieve," he said.
More than 10 players trained under his guidance have represented the state and the country at the national level. "I still miss being a coach," he admitted. Recalling one of the biggest challenges of his coaching career, he said convincing parents, especially those of girls, to allow their children to take up boxing was never easy. "Parents were often worried that their children would get injured. I stayed in regular touch with them and tried to build their confidence. Gradually, they began trusting the sport and encouraging their children to participate," he said.
Vision for Jalandhar
Even after becoming DSO, Singh continues to maintain close ties with players. "I enjoy spending time with players. They have my contact number, and I regularly interact with them whenever I get the opportunity," he added. Sharing his vision for Jalandhar, he said his priority is to strengthen coaching facilities across the district. "We already have the infrastructure. Now, we need coaches in disciplines where there are vacancies, including handball, kabaddi, kho kho, and football. My effort is to ensure these sports receive qualified coaches through the department," he said.
Preparations for Asian Hockey Championship
At present, Singh is fully occupied with preparations for the upcoming Asian Hockey Championship, which Punjab is set to host. He expressed confidence that the tournament would be organized successfully and would leave a lasting impact on the state's sporting landscape. Encouraging the younger generation to embrace sports, he urged youngsters to come forward and actively participate in games, saying that sports not only help build successful careers but also instill discipline, confidence, and a healthy lifestyle.
