Whenever a demanding and highly technical event such as the triple jump is discussed in Indian athletics, Punjab’s name stands among the foremost. Arpinder Singh, born in Harsa Chhina village in Amritsar district, has written his name in golden letters in the history of the sport. Born on 30 December 1992, this young athlete overcame poverty, injuries, failures, and deep disappointment to raise India’s flag across the world through the strength of his remarkable jumps.
The athlete who won India its first Asian Games gold medal in the triple jump after 48 years is today a source of inspiration for millions of young people. Let us explore the complete story of Arpinder Singh’s childhood, financial struggles, the contribution of his coaches, and his achievements at the international level.
Arpinder Singh was born into a very modest family. His father, Jagbir Singh, was a Havildar in the Indian Army, while his mother, Harmeet Kaur, was a homemaker. His father was himself deeply interested in sports and played kabaddi and hockey. It was he who inspired Arpinder to develop a passion for sports from childhood.
Every morning at 5 a.m., Jagbir Singh would wake his son and make him run at least five kilometres. At the young age of nine, Arpinder began participating at the school level in events such as the 100 metres, 200 metres, 300 metres, and long jump. The lessons of discipline and hard work that he learned from his father during childhood later became the foundation of his success.
Father Mortgaged His Land to Give Wings to His Son’s Dreams
After his father retired from the Army in 1990, the family’s financial condition became highly unstable. The household survived only on his father’s modest pension. Meeting the expenses of an athlete’s nutrition, professional kits, sports shoes, and daily training became a major challenge for the family.
To give wings to his son’s dreams, Jagbir Singh displayed extraordinary courage. He mortgaged his one-and-a-half acres of land to arrange money for Arpinder’s sporting career. This sacrifice by the family made Arpinder mentally stronger from within.
In 2014, when Arpinder won a medal at the Commonwealth Games, the first thing he did with the prize money was repay the loan and free his father’s mortgaged land. It was one of the most beautiful gifts a son could offer in recognition of his parents’ sacrifices.
The Beginning of His Career
During his early years, Arpinder tried his hand at the 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, and long jump, but did not achieve any major success. It was only after winning a silver medal in the triple jump at the Under-17 school games that he began developing a serious interest in the event.
Several farsighted coaches later played an important role in refining his career.
When Arpinder was 14, his father took him to SAI coach D. S. Bal in Amritsar. After observing Arpinder’s height of six feet two inches and his physical build, Coach Bal advised him to take up the triple jump. This advice proved to be the biggest turning point in his career.
After receiving basic training, Arpinder came under the guidance of renowned coach S. S. Pannu at Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana. From 2009 to 2015, Coach Pannu worked on his weaknesses and transformed him into an international-level athlete.
His victory at the Youth National Games in 2009 brought him government recognition and also improved his family’s financial condition to some extent.
In later years, he trained in Kerala under Romanian coach Bedros Bedrosian, who further sharpened his jumping technique and speed.
According to available information, Arpinder suffered a serious back injury during the early stage of his career. Doctors advised him to take complete bed rest for three months. Some critics even declared that his sporting career was over. However, Arpinder did not lose courage. He regained fitness and returned to competition.
The Price of Changing His Technique in London and the Disappointment of the Olympics and Asian Championships
After winning a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Arpinder was sent to London to prepare for the Olympics. There, a foreign coach changed his natural technique, which had an adverse effect.
Arpinder’s performance declined sharply. He experienced severe mental stress, but after returning to India, he started working on his old technique again from the very beginning.
Failing to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics was the biggest setback of his career. After that, at the 2017 Asian Championships in Bhubaneswar, he finished fourth with a jump of only 16.33 metres. These consecutive failures severely tested his morale.
Gold Medal at the 2018 Asian Games
Leaving all the disappointment behind, Arpinder Singh created history at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. He won the gold medal for India with an outstanding jump of 16.77 metres.
The victory was especially historic because India had won a gold medal in the Asian Games triple jump event after 48 years, following Mohinder Singh Gill’s triumph. This golden victory turned Arpinder into a national hero.
A Shower of Medals
Arpinder Singh’s major achievements include:
- Bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a jump of 16.91 metres
- Gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta with a jump of 16.77 metres
- Bronze medal at the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup, becoming the first Indian to win a medal at the competition
- The Arjuna Award from the Government of India for his outstanding contribution to sport
Arpinder Singh’s journey from struggle to gold proves that when a person possesses determination, hard work, and the blessings of their parents, no obstacle—whether poverty or injury—can permanently block the path to success.
A boy who once ran through the ordinary fields of a village went on to bring glory to the country on the world sporting stage through his dedication.
Arpinder Singh’s story will continue to inspire future generations and athletes to fight difficult circumstances and dream big.
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