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The celebrated king of soccer, striker Inder Singh will go down
in the annals of Indian football as a legend. He has been rightly
described as "Pele" of Punjab. He is one Sikh footballer
who has brought immense glory to the state. Speed and skill were
the chief weapons of his game. He pounced upon the ball like a panther
and when he went on an attacking spree he put any defence out of
gear. He trapped the ball with remarkable skill and scored from
acute angles. It was with this nerve that in the 1974 National Football
Championship of Jalandhar Inder Singh alone netted 2 goals in the
championship.
He earned the distinction of leading the Indian football team thrice.
In 1969 he became the first Punjab player to play in the Asian All-Star
team. He was presented the Arjuna Award in 1969. Inder Singh studied
at Government High School, Phagwara. He attended his first Punjab
school soccer camp in 1959 where the camp-in-charge was Joginder
Singh. He was quick to learn. From 1959 to 1961 he represented Punjab
in the All-India School Games. In 1960 and 1961 he was declared
the best player and highest scorer in the School Games. In 1962
he joined Leaders Club (Jalaudhar) .
The same year he represented Punjab in the Santosh Trophy at Bangalore.
In 1963 he was selected in the Indian team which played in the pre-Olympic
meet in Iran and at Calcutta. The same year he played in the Asia
Cup at Tel Aviv where in the final Israll defeated India 2-0. Then
he played in Merdeka soccer at Kuala Lumpur where India finished
second. In 1966 Inder Singh toured Burma and played in the Asian
Games at Bangkok. In 1969 he was named skipper of the Indian team
to play in Merdeka soccer. Next year's Merdeka turned unlucky for
him as he badly injured his knee.
Inder Singh, was recalled to the coaching camp in 1971-72 but could
not attend it because he was not fully fit. In 1973 he again led
India in Merdeka. In 1975 he captained India in the Hakim Gold Cup
Tournament in Indonesia. Playing against South Korea, he broke his
right arm.
Since 1975 he has not played for India. From 1962 to 77 he continuously
represented Punjab. In 1972 he left Leaders Club and jointed Jagatjit
Cotton Textile Mills (Phagwara).
Inder Singh who was born in 1943 has been with the J.C.T. Mills
(Phagwara).
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