Pargat Singh was born on March 5, 1965, at Mithapur near Jalandhar cantonment. His early education started at a village school. He joined Lyallpur Khalsa College subsequently. The place at which Pargat Singh took birth was Jalandhar. Jalandhar had produced players like Ajit Pal Singh and Surinder Sodhi. They are the man who had the great grade of excellence and both of them have served as the former captains.
Pargat Singh soon emerged as a class of his own. He was included in the junior Indian hockey team at his teenage. Pargat Singh possessed that kind of will which is indeed needed to excel and to succeed. The natural and smooth process was the graduation into the senior hockey team. Thus the journey of Pargat Singh geared up and he started rising as the most talented player. In the 10-nation hockey tournament held at Hong Kong, Pargat Singh represented India for the first time.
The most amazing part of Pargat Singh`s personality is that except a defender, he looks anything. His slim figure and an average height made him far away from the picture of a common defender.
Indian hockey, today revolves round the stick work introduced by him. Pargat Singh is still considered to be the most skilful player on the Indian Hockey scene. He always carries a different style and approach towards the game from the past Indian defenders.
The ability of Pargat Singh as a defender of high order was responsively realized. `Fine anticipation, skillful tackling, superb ball control and excellent power of recovery` are the attributes of Pargat. A different meaning of deep defense was being added to the concept of hockey by Pargat Singh. He stood by to the antagonistic, attacking style. He was not comfortable to sit back, rather stand back and watch.
India was trailing 1-5 against Germany in the Champions Trophy at Perth in Australia, with just six minutes to go. But Indians did not lose hope to strike on that particular day. Three goals to make it 4-5 one after another India damned. Pargat Singh accumulated the ball from his own half while only a few second to go, and ran down the field. Dribbling and dodging, to sore a unique goal he picked at the German defense. This eminent player in the action in the next Champions Trophy repeated the action. In the next champions trophy Pargat Singh gave India a 3-2 victory over Holland.
This soft spoken and retiring, Pargat Singh has been India`s a central cohesive source of support and stability. India, under his command gave often fared to a tolerably worthy extent. They say, `Attack is the best form of defence and Pargat is the exponent of this art`. The fight was carried by him into the rival camp. Under his captaincy of the shop, he inspired his team members with his repeated forays into the enemy camp. For India, Pargat Singh played as Full Back in Junior & Senior Indian Hockey teams. He headed India in 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He married recently. Pargat Singh also serves as the Vice-President of the Surjit Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament Society of which Mr. Jagir Puri is the secretary. They both are considered as the main pillars of the society. Currently he is working with Punjab Police. For his outstanding services towards his native country, he was awarded Padma Shree & Arjuna Award by Govt. of India. These two awards are the most desirable and appreciated awards for the players.
He has also pointed out that motivation is the main problem faced by the Indian Hockey. As he said, "The playoffs for minor positions are games that teams must play. It is such situations that test the ability of team officials to motivate the boys to go out and give their best." Olympian Pargat Singh the present the Sports Director of Punjab is very keen to see the State again making a mark in the national and international sporting arena. As he said, "If we have a base of 600,000 budding players, then we can select 600 out of them. Out of that, I believe, we can expect six to 60 medals from them in international championships.
At the national level, if Punjab`s contribution could reach 25 to 30 percent, I would be happy that I have contributed something." To him several people now a days came to realize the importance of sports. And simultaneously the strength of hockey players is progressively increasing. He has provided an account, which shows that `while in the beginning, there were only 300 players, last year there were 1200, and at present there are 2,200 players`. Singh has said, "We are also appointing coaches and have plans to install six-a-side astro-turfs in Punjab. This will help in developing the skills of budding players. At a lesser cost, we can install astro-turfs at more places. Creating 20 such pockets, and if we are able to get one player of international quality at each location, we can generate 20 quality players."
This charismatic personality always sticks to his principle of remaining `down to earth`.
as he said, "I believe achievement has no ending. But, one should keep a balance to continue stability. One should not have a superiority complex, otherwise stagnancy comes. One should not bring such feelings to mind and do his best."
