Everyone has a Sarjit story
Former Malaysian hockey captain and national coach Sarjit Singh has passed away at age 63 following a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia. The sports community is mourning the loss of a figure remembered for his leadership, mentorship, and significant contributions to the national team.
Why it matters
Sarjit Singh was a pivotal figure in Malaysian sports history, and his death marks the loss of a major influence on the development of hockey in the region.
Sarjit Singh watches Malaysia in action, still reading the play with the eye of a man who had spent much of his life at the heart of the national team. (FIH pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Five days before Sarjit Singh died, he called.
He wanted to talk about what he described as one of the toughest periods of his life.
But before he could get very far, his voice broke. Then came the sobbing.
For a moment, Sarjit, the former Malaysian hockey captain, two-time Olympian and national coach, could not continue.
He asked me to speak to his wife, Kulwant Kaur.
On speakerphone, she began to explain.
Sarjit had been in hospital for more than a month after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. He needed a bone marrow transplant, and the illness had taken a heavy toll.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in