Hawa Singh
Encyclopedia
Captain Hawa Singh (December 16, 1937 in Umarwas
, Haryana
- August 14, 2000, in Bhiwani
, Haryana
) was an India
n Heavyweight
boxer
, who dominated Indian and Asian amateur boxing for a decade in his weight class. He won the Asian Games
gold medal in Heavyweight category in consecutive editions of the games in the 1966 Asiad
and the 1970 Asiad
both held in Bangkok
, Thailand
- a feat unmatched by any Indian boxer to date (August, 2008). He won the National Championships in the Heavyweight category a record 11 consecutive times - from 1961 to 1972. He is best remembered today for being the founder of the Bhiwani Boxing Club
(BBC), which came to the limelight in 2008 in India for producing 4 out of 5 boxers of the Indian boxing contingent to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
, including the olympic medallist Vijender Kumar.
in 1956, and became the champion of the Western Command in 1960 by defeating defending champion Mohabbat Singh. He won the National Championships for 11 straight years from 1961 to 1972, winning gold medals at the 1966 Asian Games
and the 1970 Asian Games
in Bangkok
. He was awarded the Arjuna Award
, India's highest sporting award, in 1966.
After retiring, he took up coaching and was the co-founder of the Bhiwani Boxing Club
which produced a slew of Indian boxers in the 1990s and 2000s, including Olympic medallist Vijender Kumar. He was awarded the Dronacharya Award
in 1999.
He died suddenly in Bhiwani
on August 14, 2000 - 15 days before he was to have received the Dronacharya Award.
Umarwas
Umarwas is a small village in the state of Haryana in India. It is best known as the birthplace of the famous Indian boxer Hawa Singh,and great pahlwaan's like Umed singh and amrit singh.Anand Sheoran masterji told that it is a beautiful village....
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
- August 14, 2000, in Bhiwani
Bhiwani
Bhiwani is a city and a municipal council in Bhiwani district in the state of Haryana, India. It is known as the city of temples. Besides being a seat of spiritual learning, the city has been the centerstage of regional politics. The city is hometown to three of Haryana's chief ministers: Bansi...
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
) was an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxer
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
, who dominated Indian and Asian amateur boxing for a decade in his weight class. He won the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
gold medal in Heavyweight category in consecutive editions of the games in the 1966 Asiad
1966 Asian Games
The 1966 Asian Games, also known as the V Asiad, is a multi-sport event which held from December 9, 1966 to December 20, 1966 in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 142 events in 14 sports will be contested by athletes in the game. Taiwan and Israel returned to the Asian Games, reversing the decision...
and the 1970 Asiad
1970 Asian Games
The 6th Asian Games were held from December 9, 1970 to December 20, 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand. Originally Seoul, South Korea was selected to host the 6th Games but it declined due to both financial reasons and security threats from neighboring North Korea. Previous host Thailand stepped in to save...
both held in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
- a feat unmatched by any Indian boxer to date (August, 2008). He won the National Championships in the Heavyweight category a record 11 consecutive times - from 1961 to 1972. He is best remembered today for being the founder of the Bhiwani Boxing Club
Bhiwani Boxing Club
The Bhiwani Boxing Club in Bhiwani in the state of Haryana, India came to the limelight in 2008 as four of the five boxers who represented India at the 2008 Summer Olympics are from Bhiwani. Sports Authority of India coach and boxer Jagdish Singh has been credited with making the Bhiwani Boxing...
(BBC), which came to the limelight in 2008 in India for producing 4 out of 5 boxers of the Indian boxing contingent to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, including the olympic medallist Vijender Kumar.
Biography
Hawa Singh was born in rural Punjab(now Haryana) in 1937. He enrolled in the Indian ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
in 1956, and became the champion of the Western Command in 1960 by defeating defending champion Mohabbat Singh. He won the National Championships for 11 straight years from 1961 to 1972, winning gold medals at the 1966 Asian Games
1966 Asian Games
The 1966 Asian Games, also known as the V Asiad, is a multi-sport event which held from December 9, 1966 to December 20, 1966 in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 142 events in 14 sports will be contested by athletes in the game. Taiwan and Israel returned to the Asian Games, reversing the decision...
and the 1970 Asian Games
1970 Asian Games
The 6th Asian Games were held from December 9, 1970 to December 20, 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand. Originally Seoul, South Korea was selected to host the 6th Games but it declined due to both financial reasons and security threats from neighboring North Korea. Previous host Thailand stepped in to save...
in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. He was awarded the Arjuna Award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
, India's highest sporting award, in 1966.
After retiring, he took up coaching and was the co-founder of the Bhiwani Boxing Club
Bhiwani Boxing Club
The Bhiwani Boxing Club in Bhiwani in the state of Haryana, India came to the limelight in 2008 as four of the five boxers who represented India at the 2008 Summer Olympics are from Bhiwani. Sports Authority of India coach and boxer Jagdish Singh has been credited with making the Bhiwani Boxing...
which produced a slew of Indian boxers in the 1990s and 2000s, including Olympic medallist Vijender Kumar. He was awarded the Dronacharya Award
Dronacharya Award
Dronacharya Award is an award presented by the government of India for excellence in sports coaching. The award comprises a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a scroll of honour and a cash component of Rs.500,000...
in 1999.
He died suddenly in Bhiwani
Bhiwani
Bhiwani is a city and a municipal council in Bhiwani district in the state of Haryana, India. It is known as the city of temples. Besides being a seat of spiritual learning, the city has been the centerstage of regional politics. The city is hometown to three of Haryana's chief ministers: Bansi...
on August 14, 2000 - 15 days before he was to have received the Dronacharya Award.