Khajan Singh
Encyclopedia
Khajan Singh (born 6 May 1964) is an India
n swimmer, who remained national swimming champion of India
, and won a silver medal at the 1986 Asian Games
in Seoul
. He was awarded an Arjuna Award
by Government of India
in 1984.
, in Delhi
Again in the National Aquatic Championship at Ahmedabad in 1987, he not only won seven Gold Medals but also created a national record in the 100 metres freestyle with a timing of 55.21 seconds, breaking his own record of 55.34 seconds set in the 1984 South Asian Games
at Kathmandu. He was the undisputed king at the 1988 Nationals at Calcutta making an unprecedented haul of eight individual Gold, five of them gleaming with the additional lustre of new records. He also contributed to a Silver and a Bronze for the police relay team. The ace swimmer, master free style and Arjuna Awardee of 1984, Khajan bagged Silver at the 1986 Asian Games
in Seoul in 200m Butterfly. That was the first time since 1951 that India bagged a medal at the Asiad. The next medal in swimming came 24 years later, when Virdhawal Khade
won a bronze in the same event at 2010 Asian Games
.
His most outstanding international performance was at the South Asian Federation Games (now known South Asian Games), where he won Gold Medals at Kathmandu in 1984 and seven at 2004 South Asian Games
at Islamabad
in 1989. He won a Bronze at the 1988 Asian Swimming Championships
in Beijing and a Silver in the 100 metre butterfly at the world Police Games in 1988.
Khajan represented India in the 12th Commonwealth Games
at Brisbane in 1982, IXth Asian Games at Delhi in 1982, 2nd Asian Swimming Championship at Seoul in 1984, friendly International Game at Moscow in 1984. Coached by Australian coach Eric Arnold, Khajan Singh even took part in the 1988 Olympic at Seoul.
Starting a sports officer in his early career, he presently D.I.G.
with the Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF).
(JNU) campus in New Delhi
.
In 2010, he along with leading sport persons of the past took part in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports tableau on Commonwealth Games – Delhi 2010, at the 61st Republic Day parade in New Delhi.
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 swimmer, who remained national swimming champion of 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...
, and won a silver medal at the 1986 Asian Games
1986 Asian Games
The 10th Asian Games were held from September 20, 1986 to October 5, 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. The city was supposed to host the 1970 games, but it received security threats from neighboring North Korea, forcing it to give up hosting the games to previous 1966 host Bangkok, Thailand...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. He was awarded an 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....
by Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 1984.
Early life and education
Born on 6 May 1964, Khajan went to study at the Government Senior Secondary School, Sarojini NagarSarojini Nagar
Sarojini Nagar is a neighbourhood in South West Delhi district of Delhi, India. The area is one of the most developed and cleanest areas in Delhi and is popular because of its market. It was one of the sites of the 29 October 2005 Delhi bombings. It is close to Safdarjung Airport, starting 2010,...
, in Delhi
Career
He made his debut in competitive swimming by bagging five Gold Medals at the National School Championships in 1981-82. Six-Footer Khajana entered the National Aquatics Championship at Delhi in 1982 and outclassed all competitors by winning five Gold, two Silver and one Bronze. The following year at the Nationals in Trivandrum, he stroked his way to seven Gold, two Silver and one Bronze.Again in the National Aquatic Championship at Ahmedabad in 1987, he not only won seven Gold Medals but also created a national record in the 100 metres freestyle with a timing of 55.21 seconds, breaking his own record of 55.34 seconds set in the 1984 South Asian Games
1984 South Asian Games
The 1984 South Asian Games were held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in September 1984. It was the first edition of South Asian Games.- Sports :There were 5 official sports for the 1st SAF Games. They were :--Medal talley:...
at Kathmandu. He was the undisputed king at the 1988 Nationals at Calcutta making an unprecedented haul of eight individual Gold, five of them gleaming with the additional lustre of new records. He also contributed to a Silver and a Bronze for the police relay team. The ace swimmer, master free style and Arjuna Awardee of 1984, Khajan bagged Silver at the 1986 Asian Games
1986 Asian Games
The 10th Asian Games were held from September 20, 1986 to October 5, 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. The city was supposed to host the 1970 games, but it received security threats from neighboring North Korea, forcing it to give up hosting the games to previous 1966 host Bangkok, Thailand...
in Seoul in 200m Butterfly. That was the first time since 1951 that India bagged a medal at the Asiad. The next medal in swimming came 24 years later, when Virdhawal Khade
Virdhawal Khade
Virdhawal Vikram Khade is an Indian swimmer. He competed in the men's 50 m, 100 m and 200 m Freestyle swimming events at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing setting an Indian national record in 100 m Freestyle while winning his unseeded heat, but failed to qualify for the semifinals in his events...
won a bronze in the same event at 2010 Asian Games
2010 Asian Games
The 2010 Asian Games, also known as the XVI Asiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to November 27, 2010. Guangzhou was the second Chinese city to host the Games, after Beijing in 1990...
.
His most outstanding international performance was at the South Asian Federation Games (now known South Asian Games), where he won Gold Medals at Kathmandu in 1984 and seven at 2004 South Asian Games
2004 South Asian Games
The 2004 South Asian Games were held in Islamabad, Pakistan in 2004. Earlier in 2001,these games were postponed in the wake of 9/11 attacks on U.S. which is a close ally of Pakistan...
at Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
in 1989. He won a Bronze at the 1988 Asian Swimming Championships
Asian Swimming Championships
The Asian Swimming Championships are a major aquatics event, held every four years among the athletes from Asian countries. It is conducted under the governance of the Asian Amateur Swimming Federation, the governing body of aquatics in Asia....
in Beijing and a Silver in the 100 metre butterfly at the world Police Games in 1988.
Khajan represented India in the 12th Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
at Brisbane in 1982, IXth Asian Games at Delhi in 1982, 2nd Asian Swimming Championship at Seoul in 1984, friendly International Game at Moscow in 1984. Coached by Australian coach Eric Arnold, Khajan Singh even took part in the 1988 Olympic at Seoul.
Starting a sports officer in his early career, he presently D.I.G.
Deputy Inspector General of Police
A deputy inspector general of police is a high ranking senior police officer in several countries.- India :Deputy inspector general of police or additional commissioner of police is a one-star rank in the Indian Police Service...
with the Central Reserve Police Force
Central Reserve Police Force
The Central Reserve Police Force also known as CRPF is the largest of India's Central Armed Police Forces. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain...
(CRPF).
Personal life
He runs the "Khajan Singh Swimming Academy", located near the Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityJawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
(JNU) campus in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
In 2010, he along with leading sport persons of the past took part in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports tableau on Commonwealth Games – Delhi 2010, at the 61st Republic Day parade in New Delhi.