G. L. Chopra

Gurcharan Lal “G. L.” Chopra was a Kenyan hockey player, coach and referee. Born in Sheikhupura, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan), Chopra moved to Nairobi, Kenya in 1950 with his sister and her son. Chopra then worked for Kenya’s Education Department where he became a maths teacher and later a vice-principal and principal.

Chopra played hockey in Punjab and East Africa. As an umpire, judge or technical delegate, Chopra attended seven Olympic Games and five Pan American Games. This included coaching the Kenyan team at the 1960 Roma Olympics and refereeing matches at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

In 1965 Chopra and his family moved to Mexico City. Chopra then moved to Canada in 1968 where he worked for the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company in Toronto. Whilst in Toronto, Chopra began to get involved with the Canadian and Ontario field hockey organisations.