At 75, Padma Shri awardee hockey coach Baldev Singh has pledged to provide free coaching services at Jarkhar village once a full-size AstroTurf is installed, while pushing for a comprehensive sports policy in Punjab modelled after Haryana's. The veteran mentor, who received the Padma Shri on June 25 and the Dronacharya Award in 2009, remains committed to grassroots hockey development despite no longer being officially associated with any academy.
Call for Haryana-Style Sports Policy
Speaking to The Tribune, Baldev Singh emphasized that Punjab must formulate a structured sports policy covering schools to regain its lost glory in hockey and other sports. He pointed to Haryana's approach: early talent scouting, secure government jobs, substantial cash awards, and career protection for athletes. “Haryana plans well. It scouts talent early, gives secure jobs, substantial cash awards and protects an athlete’s career. That is why their medal count has risen in national games every time,” he said. “Punjab has no dearth of talent. What we need is a policy that handholds a player from under-14 level to the Olympics,” he added.
Incentives and Job Security
The coach advocated for more lucrative prize money to motivate youngsters, noting that Haryana offers Rs 6 crore for an Olympic gold while Punjab's reward is lower. “If we want parents in villages to send their children to the ground instead of abroad, the incentive must be stronger,” he stated. He also called for extending prize money to junior and youth levels, not just Olympics and Asian Games, and for assured Class-III and Class-II government jobs for national medallists and international players, following Haryana's pattern. “What about a boy or a girl who misses a medal? The player returns to farming or to driving a taxi, or takes up another activity. We must secure their future so they stay in the system,” he added.
Free Coaching at Jarkhar AstroTurf
Baldev Singh expressed readiness to share his experience for free at Jarkhar village, which has hockey in its blood but lacks a full-fledged synthetic turf. “Give Jarkhar a proper synthetic surface and I will give my experience for free. We can prepare the players there for future competitions, including nationals,” he said. Jarkhar village runs a hockey academy, has a strong decades-old tradition, and hosts one of the state's biggest rural sports festivals, but players still train on grass or a six-a-side surface. A full-size AstroTurf, he argued, would bridge the gap between village talent and city academies.
Infrastructure and Policy Push
The Punjab Sports Department has issued directions to complete formalities for installing a full-size AstroTurf in Jarkhar, following sustained efforts by Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Charitable Trust, said Jagroop Singh Jarkhar, chief administrator of Jarkhar Hockey Academy. “Once the facility is established, veteran coach Baldev Singh would impart coaching and guidance on talented youngsters, creating a strong pathway for nurturing future hockey stars,” he added. Baldev Singh reiterated that turf alone is insufficient: “Give a 14-year-old from Mundian or Bondli a guarantee of education, diet and a job if he or she performs well, and you will see the grounds full again.”
Five Years of Ground Work Left
Despite undergoing a bypass surgery in 2019, Baldev Singh said he has five good years of ground work left. “If Punjab adopts a Haryana-like policy and backs it with money and jobs, we will produce champions again. Prize money and policy must go hand in hand. Otherwise, we will keep applauding other states,” he asserted. He has mentored over 50 international players and believes that a combination of quality infrastructure, sound policy support, and experienced mentorship can help Punjab reclaim its position as a powerhouse of Indian hockey.
