Sandeep Singh is the legend of Indian hockey who is globally known as one of the best drag-flickers in the world. He is also a penalty corner specialist. He is the man who brought the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to India under his captaincy in 2009. He is an Indian field hockey player and Deputy Superintendent of Police in Haryana police. On 13 July 2018, his biopic “Soorma” was released in India in which, Diljit Dosanjh played the role of this Indian hockey star Sandeep Singh.
Biography/Wiki
Sandeep Singh’s full name is Sandeep Singh Bhinder. He is also called Flicker Singh. He is 37 years old former Indian field hockey player who was born on 27 February 1986 in a Punjabi family at Shahabad, Haryana, India. He completed his schooling from Shahbad, Haryana and later graduated in B. A. from Kurukshetra University. He has also been the student of Khalsa College, Patiala. He was passionate about playing hockey since his childhood and fascinated by his elder brother’s hockey kit and dress.
Physical Appearance
Being an athlete, Sandeep Singh has an athletic appearance. He is a tall and brawny man and his height is around 6 ft. He weighs around 75 kg. His eyes and hair both are black and has a built-up body. He wears the turban on his head; as he follows the Sikhism. His chest is around 42 inches, waist 30 inches, and biceps are 14 inches.
Family, Caste, Girlfriend
He belongs to a Punjabi Saini family from Haryana. His father name is Gurcharan Singh Bhinder and his mother is Daljit Kaur Bhinder. Both always supported him to play hockey for the nation.
He has an elder brother who is also a hockey player named, Bikramjeet Singh. His elder brother known by his field name “Monty Singh.”
He married to an Indian hockey player, Harjinder Kaur after dating her for a long time.
Career
Hockey
Sandeep Singh learned to play hockey from his elder brother Bikramjeet Singh and started playing for domestic hockey teams. He made his international debut at a very young age in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Kuala, Lumpur in 2004. He was doing pretty well in the Indian hockey team but a shooting incident on August 2006 compelled him to take bed rest for months. These were the darkest days of his life but he aspired to make a come back to the Indian team. He recovered his health and make his come back in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2008, where he became the top scorer with 9 goals in his pocket. In 2009, he became the captain and the same year India won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup under his captaincy. In 2012, he broke the record of most goals (121) by Dhanraj Pillay. Currently, he is the DSP in Haryana police.
Politics
On 26 September 2019, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Haryana Assembly Elections.
Contested the 2019 Haryana Assembly Elections from the Pehowa Constituency in Kurukshetra and defeated his nearest rival Mandeep Singh Chatta of Congress by 5,314 votes.
Controversy
Case Filed for Harassing a Woman
On 30 December 2022, a case was filed against him at a Chandigarh Police Station for harassing a female junior athletics coach. She said that he was harassing her since February 2022. She further said that he used to constantly message her on social media and even touched her inappropriately. At a press conference at the office of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), she demanded her resignation from the post of Haryana Sports Minister. She said,
He messaged me on Instagram and said my national games certificate is pending and wanted to meet in this regard. Unfortunately, my certificate has been misplaced by my federation and I have been taking it up with the authorities concerned.”
Later, Sandeep submitted his resignation from the post of Haryana Sports Minister. In an interview, he denied all the allegations and said that it was just to spoil his image. [1]NDTV
Facts
- During an interview, Sandeep revealed that he was a quite lazy student in his school days. He was a foodie who just loved to eat and sleep.
- Initially, he was reluctant to play hockey; however, he was charmed by his elder brother’s hockey-kit and dress. He desired the same things to his parents, which they gave to his elder brother. His parents agreed on the condition that he should also play hockey like his elder brother.
- Sandeep is a big fan of Dhanraj Pillay.
- In 2003, he was inducted into the Indian National Hockey Team and he became the world’s youngest player (at the age of 17+) to represent India at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
- Sandeep Singh became the leading goal scorer in the 2005 Junior Hockey World Cup.
- On 22 August 2006, just a few weeks before the Hockey World Cup to be held in Germany, Sandeep Singh was shot when the service pistol of an Assistant Sub-Inspector, Mohar Singh, mistakingly went off and hit Singh’s right hip while onboard the Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express. He was immediately rushed to the PGIMER Chandigarh.
- The bullet had damaged his lower rib, liver, and kidney. The lower portion of his body got paralyzed and doctors doubted over his chances to ever play hockey again. According to Sandeep, those were the darkest days of his life.
- Sandeep was so determined to play hockey again that even during his treatment at PGIMER Chandigarh, he, along with his elder brother, tried to play hockey; without doctors’ consent.
- After a few months of his treatment at PGIMER Chandigarh, he could sit on the wheelchair, and then, doctors told him that now, he could attend a rehab center.
- With the help of Hockey India Federation, he was sent abroad for rehabilitation, and when he returned to India, he wasn’t on wheelchair rather on his foot.
- Sandeep Singh made his come back in the 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where he emerged top scorer with 9 goals.
- In January 2009, he was appointed the captain of the Indian National Team.
- Under his captaincy, India won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2009, after 13 years.
- In 2012, in a match against France during the 2012 London Olympics Qualifier, Sandeep Singh broke the record of most goals (121) by Dhanraj Pillay.
- At the peak of his career, Sandeep Singh was said to have the best speed in the world in drag flick (speed 145 km/h).
- Sandeep Singh aims to break Pakistani Defender Sohail Abbas’s record of 348 goals.
- For his achievements in the Field Hockey, Haryana Government hounored him with a DSP Rank in the Haryana Police.
- He scored the most goals in the 2009 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. He was also the leading goal scorer in the qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics.
- He was Player of the Tournament in the 2009 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
- He was hounored with prestigious ‘Arjuna Award’ by the Government of India in 2010.
- In 2011, International Hockey Federation ranked him under the top five hockey players in the world.
- Apart from playing for the Indian team, he also played for the teams like Mumbai Magicians, Punjab Warriors, Ranchi Rays, and Havant Hockey Club.
- His favourite actor is Shah Rukh Khan.
- He loves to eat Pasta, Sprouted Grains, and Salads.
- His favourite hockey players are Dhanraj Pillay and Sohail Abbas.
- He is fond of cars and bikes. He has around four cars and two bikes including Nissan, Mahindra Thar, Fortuner, Lexus, Harley Davidson, and Royal Enfield.
- He runs a petrol pump which is situated on Delhi-Chandigarh highway.
- He has a tattoo of the Olympic symbol on his right hand.
- His hobbies are doing workouts, watching films, acting, listening to music.
- Sandeep Singh also did a cameo in the 2012 Punjabi film Ajj De Ranjhe.
- In 2018, an Indian filmmaker Shaad Ali made a biographical film of Singh’s life titled Soorma; earlier, it was titled, Flicker Singh. Diljit Dosanjh played the lead role in the film, while Taapsee Pannu and Angad Bedi were in supporting roles.
Inspirational stories proud of him and proud to be indian ??
Sandeep Ji Apko Salute Hai…
We proud about u..Mujra ( Salute)
sandeep singh saini not bhinder
Hat’s off to you sir, Lot’s of respect for you sir..
Wow great movie about determination
great man
Jai Hind
Dear Sandeep Singh ji, You deserve more & more, May Almighty bless you 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 the best on this universe.Regards.Er.Gurpreet Singh, Chandigarh
No matter how many times you fail, you must face life and be full of hope
In reality you r a big soorma with honour we salute you jai hind
सन्दीप जी, आप सचमुच बहुत ग्रेट हो आसान नही था इतनी बड़ी इंजरी के बाद कम बैक करना।बढ़िया फ़िल्म बनी है आप पर सूरमा।।
Hi Sandeep ji
I saw your biopic movie Soorma yesterday.
You are a real life inspiration to all players aspiring a comeback after a personal accident. Life is truly uncertain at times, more evident during the current covid 19 pandemic. However you are a true role model if people need some story to bounce back in life. Jai Hind!
Salute you sir.you are Real hero.
Saw your movie Soorma today.
Hats off.
Sandeep Sir, you are an absolute inspiration for plenty.
I still cannot believe someone playing world class hockey from being paralysed. You are an absolute master of the drag flick.
May GOD bless you a lot.
Hatts of to you bhaji
My 6 year old son is big fan of You ..
Thank you Sandeep paji for your contribution. You are pride of our nation.
Sir,become huge fan of yours after seeing this movie..u gives great determination and self belief to young sport persons to persue in thier field of sports and realise their dreams… thanku
Hello sandeep ji,
I have just seen your movie today. I m really shocked to know that it is a real life story. You are really a real life super hero, hats off to you sir. But I just wanted to know that why did you not marry with harpreet. She was really in love with you and sacrificed her love for you. Still it’s your personal decision but please take care of yourself and always play for India. We are proud of you. Well done Flickr singh👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👌👌👌👍
We are watching your movie Soorma and I am glad there is such a wonderful story to teach to my children. My sons are watching and love you and learning about your country and people they are smiling and laughing and crying. Thank you for your honor and perserverance. God bless you.
Now i believe miracle happens in real.life…if you are determined.
Proud of you. God bless god bless indua
My role model….really salute paji
Indian audience deserves more movies of this type of real heroes, sportsmen and army officers rather than watching Dons and negative personalities. He {Sandeep Singh} could have acted in his own movie. Daljit Dosanjh has done a great job none the less. Great movie for audience of all age groups.