Avtar Singh Bhurji

Born in Bika, India in 1944, Avtar Singh Bhurji emigrated to Uganda with his family later the same year. After attending school in Kampala, Bhurji then went to England where he studied at Kingston College in London. Whilst in England he began to play field hockey, representing both the Spencer Hockey Club and Middlesex U21 and the London Indians teams. By 1969 he had returned to Uganda where he continued to play hockey and was eventually selected to play for the national team. In 1972 Bhurji was named in Uganda’s squad to compete at the München Olympics. The team, however, was outclassed at the Games, finishing bottom of its group, but won its play-off match against Mexico to finish 15th.

Bhurji returned to England after the Olympics where he played for Blackheath, winning the National indoor title with the team in 1976. During the 1970s he also played for the Surrey county team, in addition to captaining the London Indians for five years. After spells in Kenya and Uganda he once again returned to England in 1988, this time settling there for good. Bhurji lived in the Surrey area where he worked as a hockey coach at several universities in London.