Shocking: Legendary hockey player and Olympic gold medalist Charanjit Singh passes away.

Charanjit Singh who captained the Indian team which wongold in Indian Olympics 1964, died on Thursday at his home in Una, Himachal Pradesh. He suffered a cardiac arrest after prolonged age-related illnesses.

The former midfielder was 90 and would have turned 91 next month. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Charanjit suffered a stroke five years ago and had been paralysed since then.

Dad was paralysed after suffering a stroke five years back. He used to walk with a stick but since the last couple of months, his health deteriorated and this morning he left us,” V. P, Singh, his son.

Charanjit was also a member of the Indian team which won silver in the 1960 Games, and the team which won silver in the 1962 Asian Games. “His last rites will be performed today after my sister reaches Una from Delhi,” V. P. Singh said.

Charanjit’s wife had passed away 12 years ago. While his elder son is a doctor based in Canada, his younger son was next to him when he breathed his last. His only daughter is married and based in New Delhi.

His last rites will be performed on Thursday evening in Una.

Charanjit was born on 22nd November 1930 at Mairi village in Una district of the State. An alumnus of Col. Brown Cambridge School, Dehra Dun, and Punjab University, he was also a part of the team that won the silver medal at the Rome Olympics in 1960.

After retiring from hockey, Charanjit Singh worked as Director of Department of Physical Education at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.

By line : Divya Thearia