Avtar Singh
Sohal, known to all as Tari, played hockey for Kenya at four Olympic Games,
from 1960-72. He captained the team in 1964, 1968, and 1972, and was also the
Kenyan captain at the 1st World Cup of hockey in Barcelona in 1971. Singh Sohal
represented Kenya from 1957-72 and was capped 167 times. He learned his hockey
when he played for City Primary School and the Duke of Gloucester School in
Nairobi. After he retired from playing, he began a coaching career and was
Kenyan National Coach from 1978-88, coaching them at the 1984 Olympics in Los
Angeles. Singh Sohal also took up umpiring and was awarded an FIH International
Umpires badge in 1980. He was a judge at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and was
appointed to the FIH Development and Coaching Committee in 1988. In 2000 Tari
was given the Diploma of Merit by the FIH for his services to hockey.
Avtar Singh
Sohal (affectionately known as Tari), now 87, is widely respected as the
greatest Kenyan hockey player ever. His elite hockey career began when he
represented British Kenya (Kenya was then a colony of the British Empire)
during the Rome Olympic Games of 1960, continuing to play hockey for and
captain an independent Kenya at a further 3 Olympic Games: 1964 (Tokyo), 1968
(Mexico) and 1972 (Munich).
Avtar was
recently awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior – one of Kenya’s highest orders
of merit during the Jamhuri Day celebrations in December 2021. In
March 2022, Avtar was further honoured by his hockey club – Sikh Union in
Nairobi – with a permanent exhibition of his hockey memorabilia.
Avtar has
retained close ties with British hockey, particularly with the South Asian
diaspora community, many of whom emigrated to Britain from Kenya following its
independence. Avtar was elected as Vice President of Spencer Hockey Club during
the mid-2000s. Even though he is based in Nairobi, Kenya, he is well acquainted
with Spencer and always visits and supports them when he is in the UK.
(What do you remember most about Tari, write to skipfer43@gmail.com)
A working draft
Tari, Kenya's outstanding hockey superstar, was born for greatness, which he achieved each year he played and captained the Kenya Olympic team, the Kenya national team, his ultra-beloved Sikh Union Hockey team and the clubhouse.
I spoke to Tari recently. He told me the Sikh Union Club will be celebrating a 100th birthday next May and he would be delighted if some of his hockey would join him for the occasion.
Kenya 1956 Melbourne Olympics: Ronald JJ Frank, Anthony Vaz, Balbir Singh Sidhu, S F Delgado, Surjit Singh Deol, Henry Coulson, Michael Pereira, Tej Prakash Singh Brar, W. Plenderleith, Reynold D'Souza, Alu Mendonca, Tejinder Singh Rao, Gursaran Singh Semi, Hardev Singh Kular, Avtar Singh Deol, Joginder Singh Dhillon.
KENYA 1960 Rome Olympics: Saude George, Anthony Vaz, Avtar Singh Sohal(capt), Jagnandan Singh, Surjeet Singh Deol, Sylvester Fernandes, Hilary Fernandes, Surjeet Singh Panesar, Pritam Singh Sandhu, Alu Mendonca, Jack Simonian, Kirpal Singh Bhardwaj, Gursaran Singh Sehmi, Egbert Fernandes, Kishen Aggarwal, Hardev Singh Kulara, Om Prakash Varma.
KENYA 1964 TOKYO OLYMPICS HOCKEY TEA
1. Saudi George
2. Anthony Vaz
3.Santokh Singh Matharu
4.Surjeet Singh Panesar
5. Hillary Fernandes
6. Edgar Fernandes
7. Egbert Fernandes
8. Reynold D'Souza
9. A. Mendonca
10 .Silu Fernandes
11.Avtar Singh Sohal Capt.
12. Leo Fernandes
13.Amar Singh Mangat
14.Jack Simonian
15.Krishen Aggarwal
16. Tejparkash Singh Brar
17. Kirpal Singh Bhardwaj
18. Samad Khan
KENYA 1968 MEXICO OLYMPICS HOCKEY TEAM
1. Jack Simonian
2. Kirpal Singh Bhardwaj
3. Avtar Singh Sohal Capt.
4. Santokh Singh Matharu
5. Surjeet Singh Panesar
6. Harvinder Singh Marwa
7. Hillary Fernandes
8. Egbert Fernandes
9. Davinder Singh Deegan
10. A. Mendonca
11. Reynold Pereira
12. Leo Fernandes
13. Ajmal Malik
14. Silu Fernandes
15. Amarjit Singh Marwa
16. Ezra
17. Jagjit Singh KULAR
18. Jagmel Singh Rooprai
KENYA 1972 MUNICH OLYMPICS HOCKEY TEAM
1. Amarjeet Singh Marwa
2. Avtar Singh Sohal Capt.
3. Surjeet Singh Panesar
4. Harvinder Singh Marwa
5. Surjit Singh Rihal
6. Havinderpal Singh Sibia
7. Leo Fernandes
8. Jagjit Singh Kular
9. Davinder Singh Deegan
10. Brajinder Saved
11. Feeling Singh Chana
12. Reynold Pereira
13. Ranjit Singh Sehmi
14. Resham Singh Bains
15. Phillip D'Souza
16. Ajmal Malik
17. Jagmel Singh Rooprai
18.Silvester Ashioyo
KENYA 1984 LOS ANGLES OLYMPICS HOCKEY TEAM
1. Peter Akatsa
2. Julius Akumu
3. Lukas Alubaha
4. Sunil Chabra
5 Brajinder Daved
6. Raphael Fernandes
7.Harvinder Singh Kular
8. Julius Mutinda
9. Emanuel O'Doul
10. Michael Omaondi
11. Chris Otambo
12. Eric Otieno
13. Jitender SinghPanesar
14. Manjeet Singh Panesar
15. Parminder Singh Saini
16. Surbjit Singh Sehmi
17. Simi Goyal
KENYA 1988 SEOUL OLYMPICS HOCKEY TEAM
1. Paul Omany
2. Parminder Singh Saini
3. Roy Odhier
4. Charles Oguk
5. Eliud Okoth
6. Michael Omaondi
7. Samuel Ngoyo
8. Peter Akasta
9. Simi Goyal
10. Chris Otambo
11. Lucas Alubaha
12. Victor Owino
13. Samson Oriso
14. Inderjit Singh Matharu
15. Samson Muange
16. Julius Mutinda
What made Avtar Singh Sohal, known to us as Tari, he represented Kenya at field hockey in four Olympics 1960-1972 (he coached a couple I think). He learnt his hockey at City Primary School and later at the Duke of Gloucester in Nairobi.
Most of all, my friend Tari is a gentleman, Scholar and will remain a part of Kenya for the rest of his days. A perfect gentleman.
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