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{{short description|Indian sprinter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ajmer Singh
| image = 
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1940|02|1}}
| birth_place = Kup Kalan, [[Sangrur district]], Punjab
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2010|01|26|1940|02|1}}
| death_place = [[Chandigarh]] | nationality = [[India]]n
| known_for =
| occupation = sprinter, academic }}
{{MedalTop}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Track and field athletics|Athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry| {{flag|IND}} }}
{{MedalCompetition| [[1966 Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1966 Asian Games|1966 Bangkok]] | [[Athletics at the 1966 Asian Games|400 m]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1966 Asian Games|1966 Bangkok]] | [[Athletics at the 1966 Asian Games|200 m]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}

'''Ajmer Singh''' (1 February 1940 – 26 January 2010) was an [[India]]n [[Sprint (running)|sprinter]] who competed in the [[1964 Summer Olympics]], was a gold medalist at the [[1966 Asian Games]], in [[Bangkok]], and later served as Director of Sports, [[Punjab University, Chandigarh]].<ref name=sref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/ajmer-singh-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418120129/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/ajmer-singh-2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |accessdate=15 May 2012}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
He was born in a [[Jat Sikh]] farmer family of Kartar Singh Aulakh and Bachan Kaur [[Aulakh]], at Kup Kalan village in the [[Sangrur district]] of Punjab<ref name=times2010/><ref>[http://sportswire4u.blogspot.in/2010/01/by-sportswire4u.html Olympian athlete Prof Ajmer Singh is dead] sports wire, 26 January 2010.</ref>

He graduated from Government College, [[Malerkotla]], and later did his [[Bachelor of Physical Education]] (B.P.E.] from [[Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education]], Gwalior. This was followed by M.A. from Punjab University, Chandigarh, and finally, he also did his Ph.D from Punjab University Chandigarh.<ref name=sref/>

Ajmer Singh is the only Indian personality with a PhD degree in Physical Education to have been honored by Govt. of India with the Arjuna Award. He was a [[self-made man]] who came from very humble beginnings and remained a humble person all his life, an able administrator, a great coach and teacher, a passionate mentor, a strict disciplinarian, a warm human being whose heart and the home was always open to others, and a very fine family man.

Up to middle school level education, Ajmer had to walk to the neighbouring village of Rohira, some 2 miles (about 4 kilometers) from village Kup. Family being very poor, Ajmer walked bare feet, rain or shine, winters or summers, dressed in rags through thorny paths to school, and yet achieved first division at all school level examinations. There was no electricity in those days, and he would sit at night by a small oil lamp and study, as he would be out helping with all family chores at home and in the fields during daylight.

Always under-fed, and malnutritioned, Ajmer had knocking knees as a growing up child, and yet he became Asian champion in sprinting, and an Olympian athlete. Having lost his mother while he was a baby, Ajmer had only one regret having never known his mother.

==Career==
He took part in the [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Tokyo Olympics]], two years later at the [[Athletics at the 1966 Asian Games|1966 Asian Games]] held at [[Bangkok]], he won a gold in [[400 metres]], and a silver in [[200 metres]]<ref name=times2010>{{cite news |title=Olympian athlete Ajmer Singh passed away|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-27/athletics/28123124_1_condoled-ajmer-singh-sports-fraternity |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928033854/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-27/athletics/28123124_1_condoled-ajmer-singh-sports-fraternity |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2013 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=27 Jan 2010 }}</ref>

Was on deputation as Special Education Officer to Federal Govt. of Nigeria from 1976 to 1979. While in Nigeria, Ajmer coached Daghba Minha who was his student at [[Federal Government Girls' College, Abuloma]], Portharcourt, Nigeria, in athletics. Minha, under the able and dedicated guidance of Ajmer, became Nigeria's national champion in Shot Put and Discus Throw.

He also remained vice-chancellor of Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education, [[Gwalior]] and Maulana Abul Kalam Chair and Director Sports, at the [[Punjab University, Chandigarh]].<ref name=times2010/><ref>{{cite news |title=Olympian athlete Ajmer Singh dead |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/olympian-athlete-ajmer-singh-dead/572371/ |newspaper=[[Indian Express]] |date=28 Jan 2010|accessdate=16 May 2012 }}</ref>

He died in Chandigarh in the morning of 26 January 2010, at the age of 70,<ref>{{cite news |title=Olympian athlete's body donated for research |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/olympian-ajmer-singhs-body-donated-for-research/109322-5.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713040905/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/olympian-ajmer-singhs-body-donated-for-research/109322-5.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2012 |publisher=[[CNN-IBN]]|date=28 Jan 2010 }}</ref> and is survived by his wife, two sons and grand children.<ref name=sref/>

He was awarded the second highest sports award, the [[Arjuna Award]] by [[Government of India]] in 1966<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm |title=List of Award winners up to 2004 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221945/http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm |archivedate=2007-12-25 }}</ref>

Two years before his death, Ajmer had declared his body be donated for medical research to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research at Chandigarh. Also, he Ajmer had declared that no memorials be made/constructed in his memory in any form. Both his wishes were fulfilled by his family.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/ajmer-singh-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418120129/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/ajmer-singh-2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-18 |title=Ajmer Singh}}
{{Footer Asian Games Champions 400 metres Men}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Ajmer}}
[[Category:Indian male sprinters]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes of India]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:People from Sangrur]]
[[Category:Athletes from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Indian academics]]
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1966 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1970 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1966 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1970 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Panjab University alumni]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for India]]

Ajmer Singh (athlete) - Revision history

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