Punjab has long been a fertile ground for sporting talent, but turning raw ability into world-class performance requires something more—a coach who can recognise potential, nurture it and patiently shape it into excellence. Dr Parveer Singh has spent more than three decades doing exactly that. A proud son of Punjab and one of Indian athletics’ most respected coaches, he has worked with some of the country’s finest throwing athletes and played a key role in their journey to the international podium.
Dr. Parveer Singh has been recently selected for the Dronacharya Award under the Regular Category for his outstanding coaching contributions to Athletics. Coach Parveer retired from the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, on July 31, after years of grooming champions at one of India’s most important sporting institutions. For Punjab, a state where sport is deeply embedded in its culture, his recognition is not merely a personal honour—it is a celebration of a coaching legacy built patiently over decades.
Upon hearing the news of his national recognition, Coach Parveer immediately deflected the spotlight with the characteristic humility of a true Punjabi hero, stating:
“Naturally, the feeling was extremely good… but at the same time, I am really thankful to everyone—the Athletics Federation of India, the Sports Authority of India, and our athletes, because it is due to the hard work and potential of our athletes that I have received this award today.”
Presented exclusively for the readers of saddapunjab.com, this is the inspiring story of Dr. Parveer Singh’s lifelong devotion to athletics, his legendary wards, and his revolutionary vision for Punjab’s sporting future.
From the NIS Cradle to the National Camp: A Lifetime of Devotion
Coach Parveer’s roots are deeply entwined with the historic sporting capital of Patiala, where he resides today. His long journey began in 1991 when he completed his sports coaching diploma from NIS Patiala. He joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) as a coach in 1992, carrying Punjab’s proud athletic traditions across India through early postings in Maharashtra for three years, Gujarat for two years, and briefly in Daman and Diu.
In 1999, his journey came full circle when he returned to NIS Patiala as a teacher, and by 2001, he was drafted into the national team coaching camp, starting with the women’s discus throw group. Parallel to his relentless training schedules, Parveer pursued academic excellence, earning his Master’s in Sports Coaching and completing a prestigious PhD from the Sports Science and Coaching Department of Punjabi University, Patiala, in 2021.
From his early days coaching with limited technology to the modern era, Parveer has always believed that coaching is an evolving science. Reflecting on his early coaching days, he notes:
“Any training theory or system is not static in nature. Changes keep happening, new research continues to emerge, and we improve ourselves. This is a continuous process… changes are guaranteed to come.”
The Midas Touch: Sculpting a Galaxy of World-Class Champions
Over his 25-year tenure with the national team, Coach Parveer has earned a legendary reputation for transforming raw, natural potential into international gold. His roster of wards represents some of the finest athletes in Indian history :
- Seema Punia: Under Parveer’s direct guidance, the discus throw powerhouse clinched her historic first-ever Commonwealth Games (CWG) medal—a silver at the 2006 Melbourne Games—paving the way for her storied career.
- Harwant Kaur: Parveer mentored Harwant to a spectacular silver medal in the women’s discus throw at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
- Krishna Poonia: Parveer closely trained and guided Krishna in the years leading up to her legendary, historic gold-medal sweep at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
- Tajinderpal Singh Toor: Trained under Parveer from 2022 to 2025, the shot-put giant became the reigning Asian Record holder and captured double Asian Games gold.
- Annu Rani: Mentored by Parveer, Annu shattered barriers as the first Indian woman javelin thrower to reach a World Championship final (finishing 7th), winning a bronze at the 2022 CWG, and reaching the absolute peak with a historic gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
- Rohit Yadav: Guided by Parveer, Rohit Yadav unleashed a massive throw of 87.05 meters in June—the second-best throw recorded globally at that time.
Speaking about these extraordinary champions, Coach Parveer notes:
“These athletes with whom I have worked and coached are elite athletes. And by elite, I mean the potential I have seen in them is truly world-class… They are outstanding, fine athletes. They possess great potential, and that is why I say that my athletes’ contribution to me receiving this award is massive.”
For Parveer, the taste of victory only fuels a deeper hunger to improve:
“The feeling is incredible, and there is indeed a sense of ‘mission accomplished,’ but it never feels like the journey ends there. Actually, within a short moment, it comes to mind: ‘Next time, I will do even better than this…’ Even today, I feel in my heart that there is still so much left to do and achieve.”
Cultivating the Grassroots: Overcoming Punjab’s Infrastructure and Coaching Gaps
Despite his global success and credentials as a World Athletics Level 3 Lecturer—which sees him travelling across Asia to train coaches in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Bhutan —Dr Parveer’s heart remains anchored in the dusty playing fields of Punjab’s villages. He acknowledges that while elite national athletes receive excellent funding from the government, the real battle is at the grassroots level.
“If I speak about Punjab, athletes from here have always been very special and even today, everyone is outstanding. There is immense talent in Punjab, Haryana, and the North… But the most important thing is that there is still a massive lack of infrastructure at the grassroots level… that mass participation at the grassroots is missing.”
To resolve this, Parveer urges the state government to build modern training facilities at the local level:
“First of all, having good training facilities and infrastructure at every district level, and further down at the tehsil or taluka level, is essential.”
Furthermore, he points out a severe shortage of qualified, scientific coaches relative to India’s massive population. He highlights the urgent need to expand coaching education and provide strong career incentives:
“Coach education is key… Compared to our population, their number is extremely low. Along with infrastructure, the biggest issue is that the number of coaches is very small.”
Protecting the Soil: A Crusade Against Doping
As a mentor dedicated to preserving the integrity of Punjab’s legendary athletic genes, Coach Parveer is highly passionate about eliminating the dark menace of doping and drugs from sports. For Parveer, the fight starts in the home, long before an athlete ever steps onto a professional track:
“Whether in Punjab or anywhere else in the world, the foremost step is proper education—educating them on what the harms are and making them realise that you cannot actually gain any real benefit from it… I believe the most important thing is education, especially to make youngsters and their parents aware.”
He believes that a robust, educational shield combined with strict testing and uncompromising punishments is the only way to safeguard Punjab’s youth and ensure that the champions of tomorrow are built on clean, honest sweat.
The Eternal Student: A Message of Passion and Adaptation
Coach Parveer is constantly learning and is still eager to share his expertise with India’s elite athletes. After a multi-decade stint with the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, he is now working as Deputy Chief Coach with the Athletics Federation of India.
As Dr. Parveer Singh prepares to receive his Dronacharya Award from the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on National Sports Day (August 29th), his journey continues unabated.
His final message to Punjab’s upcoming crop of athletes and coaches is, “Dedication and passion are necessary first, and keep updating your coaching methodological knowledge… When something new comes up, whether it is a scientific study or new information, be ready to change and adapt your training and systems accordingly.”
For a proud Punjab, Dr. Parveer Singh, is more than a coach—he is a visionary builder of human character and a guardian of Punjab’s golden athletic pride on the world stage.
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