Malaysia’s former national men’s hockey team captain and coach Sarjit Singh died on Sunday, Aug 23. He was 63.
Sarjit, who was in hospital for more than a month after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a rare but aggressive blood cancer, died with his family by his side, his son, Nischal, told online news portal Free Malaysia Today.
Nischal described his father as a “no-nonsense person” who loved playing tennis and pickleball.
“His constant care for everyone around him made him an icon and a legend,” he said.
Sarjit’s death triggered an outpouring of tributes.
“His dedication, service and contributions to Malaysian hockey – both as a player and as a head coach – will always be remembered,” the Malaysian Hockey Confederation said in a Facebook post on Aug 23.
Former Malaysian hockey captain N. Sri Shanmuganathan said Sarjit could read a game well and had a vision of how to overcome his opponents.
“Sarjit had great skills, and he was the most outstanding player during his playing days. No other national player can match his skills and his ability,” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times (NST).
Sarjit represented Malaysia at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
He also won bronze medals at two Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982 and Beijing in 1990.
Sarjit was captain of Malaysia’s national hockey team for seven years and part of the Asian All-Star team – a squad chosen by the Asian Hockey Federation to recognise the top field hockey players in Asia – in 1987.
He also served in various coaching roles during his career.
He first served as a national coach from 2007 to 2008.
He returned for a second stint as coach from March 2024 to March 2026, recently guiding the national team to finish fourth in the World Cup Qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt.
Sarjit’s funeral was held on Aug 25 at Jalan Loke Yew Crematorium in Kuala Lumpur, NST reported.
