Hakam Singh Bhattal, former Asian Games gold medallist and Dhyan Chand Award winner dies at 64

Asian Games gold medallist athlete and Dhyan Chand award winner Hakam Singh Bhattal was seriously ill in Sangrur hospital, battled with serious liver and kidney ailments, Punjab aged 64.

Former Indian athelete Hakam Singh Bhattal had won a gold medal at the 1978 Asian Games. He was also served the nation as havildar in the 6 Sikh Regiment after joining the Army in 1972.

He was known for his gold medal, which he won at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games in the 20 Km walk race. He had repeated his performance next year in the Asian Track and Field Championship at Tokyo.

Sukhjit, Bhattal’s son cited that “My father won the case in the Army tribunal ago against his forcible retirement and he will get his pension and other benefits from 1987.He was removed from the Army after having a tiff with his senior for not promoting him." as per reported in The Tribune.

Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi expressed grief over Singh’s demise.

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