NEW DELHI: Veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh will be honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award by Droupadi Murmu on May 25 for his massive contribution to Indian hockey. Singh is widely known for transforming the small Haryana town of Shahabad Markanda into a major hub for producing top hockey players.The 75-year-old first arrived in Shahabad Markanda in 1982 as a coach with the Haryana Sports Department. After returning to the town in 1993, he helped build one of India’s most successful hockey academies, producing more than 80 international players and eight Indian captains over the years.Before becoming a coach, Singh played for the Namdhari Hockey team and later completed a coaching diploma from the National Institute of Sports in Bengaluru. His coaching journey soon saw him take up important roles in Indian hockey.He worked as chief coach and selector of India’s junior men’s team in 1993 and later became assistant coach of the Indian side that won the Champions Trophy in Chennai in 1996. From 2001 to 2004, he served as head coach of the Indian men’s hockey team.Under his guidance, India won the Asia Cup gold medal in 2004. He also coached the national team during major international tournaments, including the Champions Trophy in the Netherlands.For more than 40 years, Baldev Singh has quietly contributed to Indian hockey behind the scenes. Apart from coaching, he has worked with universities and sports institutions to develop young talent.He was also part of the Centre’s Olympic Task Force, helping prepare long-term plans for the Tokyo, Paris and Los Angeles Olympic Games. His contribution is widely seen as one of the biggest reasons behind the rise of hockey talent from Haryana and northern India.