India: From one Olympian to another: Gurbux Singh honors Roop Singh’s legacy

~Hockey India, in their month-long campaign to celebrate 100 years of Indian hockey, dives deep into nostalgia, celebrating and remembering the heroes of the sport who created a legacy that continues to dominate the sporting world~

~ “Legends like Roop Singh started the journey. It was a revelation to see him up close,” recalls Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Gurbux Singh. ~

New Delhi, October 15, 2025: Roop Singh, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the best strikers from Indian hockey’s golden era, remains an enduring symbol of India’s dominance that defined the sport in its early decades. A member of India’s victorious teams at the 1932 Los Angeles and 1936 Berlin Olympics, and the younger brother of the legendary Major Dhyan Chand, Roop Singh’s name occupies a proud place in the history of the game.

For Gurbux Singh, Olympic gold medalist at Tokyo 1964, bronze medalist at Mexico City 1968 and recipient of the Arjuna Award, the connection is deeply personal. One of India’s most respected hockey figures, Gurbux was coached by Roop Singh early in his career, an experience that left a lasting impression on him.

“I was in college in Delhi when I was called for the Madhya Bharat trials in 1955,” he said. “The trials took place in Gwalior, and that’s where I met Roop Singh for the first time. He was the coach and manager of our team. I was just a college boy then and it was a revelation to see a legend like him and spend time with him.”

Gurbux remembered him as a man of warmth. “He was a thorough gentleman, very simple and friendly. Despite all his achievements, he was approachable and friendly. It was my first national championship and it was a great fortune to be coached by him,” he said.

The 1955 Nationals in Madras marked the beginning of a journey that shaped Gurbux Singh’s legendary career. Roop Singh, who had won Olympic gold in 1932 and 1936, brought with him a sense of purpose that deeply inspired those around him.

“He belonged to a generation we looked up to,” Gurbux said. “I was born before Independence and for us they were icons. I didn’t see Roop Singh or Dhyan Chand play at their peak, but I knew their greatness. If there had been no Second World War, India would certainly have won two more Olympic gold medals in 1940 and 1944. They were good enough. Roop Singh would have played and he would have added to that legacy.”

He also recalled how Dhyan Chand himself often said that his younger brother was the better player, a testament to Roop Singh’s quiet genius. “It also shows the greatness of Dhyan Chand that he considered his younger brother even greater than himself,” Gurbux said.

But beneath the glory, Gurbux added that the challenges Roop Singh faces later in life are a testament to how much Indian hockey has changed. “It pained me deeply to see that we did not appreciate their greatness enough,” he said. “I still remember an exhibition match held in Bombay in the late 1950s to raise money for Roop Singh. Only a small amount, perhaps a hundred rupees, was collected and handed over. They were men who never played for money, only for the nation. They achieved everything for India, but life was not easy for them later.”

However, he added optimistically: “That has changed now. Our players are being looked after much better, and that is one of the reasons why hockey is improving again. Things have turned around for the better, and that is how it should be.”

As Indian hockey marks 100 years, Gurbux Singh’s words were a reminder for the next generation. “Legends like Roop Singh started the journey,” he said. “For forty years we were in the wilderness, but now we have returned with two Olympic bronze medals. The next step is to go for gold again. The inspiration is there because these men laid the foundation. It is up to today’s players to keep the flag high.”

Hockey India will bring more such nostalgic stories from the icons of yesteryear in the coming days, with an aim to relive the historic contribution of the legends of the sport that put India on the world sporting map in the last 100 years.