Chandigarh, March 7, 2021:
Punjab Sports and Youth Services Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, on Sunday, condoled the sad demise of Ishar Singh Deol (91), an international athlete conferred with Dhyan Chand National Sports Award. The mortal remains of Mr. Deol, who passed away late last evening, were consigned to fire at Jalandhar today.
Sharing his heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved family, relatives and friends, Rana Sodhi prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength and courage to the family to bear the loss, saying that Deol won many medals for the country and the state since 1951 and awarded the Dhyan Chand National Award in 2009 for his lifelong contribution towards sports. “The passing away of Mr. Deol has created a huge void in the sports world, said the minister, adding that Deol was General Secretary of the Punjab Athletes Association for 30 consecutive years and Vice President of the Athletic Federation of India and a member of the Selection Committee for many years.
. Deol, born on September 7, 1929 in village Ranguwal of district Ludhiana, had studied 10th from High School, Montgomery in Pakistan and graduated from Khalsa College, Amritsar. After Obtaining Athletics Coaching Certificate from NIS Patiala, he joined the Pepsu Police as an ASI for some time and then moved to State Sports College, Jalandhar, from where he retired as Principal (Executive) in 1987.
Deol competed in the first three Asian Games and won a bronze medal in the second Asian Games held in Manila, Philippines in 1954. During the International Athletic Meet-1957 in Montgomery, Pakistan, he set a new Asian record in Shot-put with 46 feet 11.2 inches throw. Deol continually participated in shot-put and discus throw events from 1951 to 1960. He won gold medals in the All India Police Meet for five consecutive years from 1952 to 1957 besides clinching gold at the first Asian Veteran Athletic Meet in Singapore in 1982. Apart from this, he performed duties on various prestigious positions in sports tournaments held at home and abroad.
