Avtar Bhurji (left) in action for Uganda.

Avtar Singh Bhurji is a former field hockey player. Born in India, he moved to Uganda as an infant where he played hockey for his secondary school. After completing his further studies in England and playing for London Indians Hockey Club, he returned to Kampala (Uganda) and competed at the Munich 1972 Olympic Games for Uganda. He continued to play hockey until a health condition forced him to retire and transition to coaching. Bhurji reflects on both of these phases in his hockey life; he describes his favourite hockey players, the varying clubs he has played for and coached, and how the global politics that he played and lived through impacted his international hockey career and family life.

Image: Dil Bahra | SikhsinHockey.com