Hardial Singh Kular

Hardial Singh Kullar was educated at Allidina Visram High School in Mombasa, Kenya and was selected to the national hockey team at age 19. He played for Sikh Union Nairobi as a right half and for Kenya in 1948-49.

Singh Kullar later became a coach, official, and hockey administrator. He coached the Kenyan team at the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games and received his International Hockey Federation (FIH) umpiring badge in 1964. He was a technical delegate and appeals judge at the 1972 München, 1976 Montreal, 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul, and 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He also served in those posts at the 1973 Amsterdam, 1975 Kuala Lumpur, 1978 Buenos Aires, 1982 Bombay, 1986 London, and 1990 Lahore World Cups.

Singh Kullar was secretary of the Kenyan Hockey Union from 1961-69. He served on the technical and competition committees of the FIH, was a member of the hockey rules board for 26 years (1972-98), and was a member of the FIH Council from 1966-98. Singh Kullar chaired the Kenyan Hockey Union from 1982-98 and was President of the African Hockey Federation from 1987-98. He was elected a vice-president of the FIH in 1992, a position he held until his death in 1998.

Outside of hockey, Singh Kullar was secretary-general of the Kenyan National Olympic Committee from 1969-73 and was an executive committee member from 1973-98. He was a chair of the Kenya Cricket Association, was a member of the Kenyan Football Federation, and chaired the Sikh Union Nairobi Club.

Singh Kullar was awarded the Kenya Presidential Order of Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) in 1995. He was awarded the Olympic Order in May 1998 by IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.