Remembering Dalip Singh, first Olympian from Punjab - 1924 Paris Olympics
This page is dedicated to legendary athlete Dalip Singh, the first Olympian from Punjab, who competed in the 1924 Olympics in Paris.
It comprises a 10-part series, highlighting the 100-year-old legacy of Olympian Dalip Singh Grewal and how he became the torchbearer of sporting excellence for the northern agrarian state of India.
The late Dalip Singh had the distinction of representing India in two Olympics (1924 & 1928), lighting the flame of the inaugural Asian Games, nurturing Olympians, and achieving many firsts. He was awarded the MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his actions in World War II.
Brigadier Dalip Singh was an all-round sportsman who competed at the Olympics in athletics, played hockey for the Patiala Tigers—a popular team in the circuit at that time—and played cricket, representing the Sikhs in the Quadrangular tournament. This tournament, played during the colonial era, featured teams formed based on communities/religions and took place in Lahore in 1927.