Great memories of the ‘Falling Singh’

was known as the “Falling Singh” and it was a great compliment.

Harnek Singh Dhaliwal, who passed away yesterday at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer, was one of those rare hockey players with a unique style.

Possessing unusual dribbling skills and stickwork, the falling part was part of the wizardly left winger’s bag of tricks to deceive opposing defenders. He appeared to fall but he never fell.

The quiet and unassuming Harnek was in the training squad for the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur which saw Malaysia reach the semi-finals. For reasons of his own, he withdrew from that great Malaysian team just before the tournament started.

Former national coach Datuk R. Yogeswaran said yesterday: “Harnek was a brilliant player who was famously known as the ‘Falling Singh’. He would confuse defenders with his imbalance, and somehow end up scoring instead.”

Harnek used to play for Melaka and later for Selangor and PKNS in the 1970s alongside 1975 World Cuppers Sri Shanmuganathan, Wong Choon Hin, R. Pathmarajah, M. Mahendran, K. Balasingam and K.T. Rajan.

Harnek, who wore the Malaysian shirt 30 times, also represented the nation in the 1973 Seap Games in Singapore and the 1975 Seap Games in Bangkok.

Harnek was also good in football, representing Melaka in the Burnley Cup but hockey remained his first love.

Harnek was so passionate about hockey that he named his eldest son after the famed India captain Ajitpal Singh. And in true sporting spirit, Ajitpal is assistant sports editor with the New Straits Times.

He battled throat cancer for a year and was admitted to Universiti Hospital last Thursday. After three days, he was brought home where he passed away surrounded by his family members.

Harnek leaves behind his wife Ranjit Kaur and children Ajitpal (44), Tarenjit Kaur (40) and Amithpal Singh (32).

Harnek will be cremated today at 1pm at Gui Yuan Crematorium, Kg Tunku, Petaling Jaya.