Surinder Singh Sodhi is a former Indian field hockey international, 1980 Olympic gold medallist, Arjuna Awardee, retired Inspector General of Police, and Aam Aadmi Party politician who came within 5,808 votes of becoming one of the very few Olympic gold medallists in history to win elected office in India. A centre forward renowned for scoring 15 goals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the highest tally by an Indian player in Olympic hockey history, he went on to serve over two decades in the Indian Police before entering politics at the age of 64 in 2022.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Surinder Singh Sodhi |
| Date of Birth | 22 June 1957 |
| Age (2026) | 68 years |
| Birthplace | Jalandhar, Punjab, India |
| Hometown | Jalandhar, Punjab |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Caste or Community | Not publicly confirmed |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Weight | Not publicly confirmed |
| Eye Colour | Not publicly confirmed |
| Hair Colour | Not publicly confirmed |
| Profession | Politician, Retired Inspector General of Police, former International Hockey Player |
| Known For | 1980 Olympic gold medal, 15 goals at Moscow Olympics (record for an Indian), Arjuna Award (1997), retired IPS officer, AAP candidate Jalandhar Cantonment (2022) |
| Father’s Name | Gurbachan Singh |
| Mother’s Name | Not publicly confirmed |
| Siblings | Not publicly confirmed |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Not publicly confirmed (name not disclosed in official records, retired Associate Professor) |
| Children | Not publicly confirmed |
| School | Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Ladowali Road, Jalandhar |
| College or University | Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar; Punjab University, Chandigarh |
| Degree or Qualification | B.A., Punjab University, Chandigarh, 1989 |
| Political Party | Aam Aadmi Party (AAP); previously Congress (briefly); previously AAP (from 2016) |
| Current Position or Role | AAP leader; former AAP candidate, Jalandhar Cantonment (2022) |
| Net Worth (estimated) | Rs 6.96 crore (declared assets, 2022 EC affidavit) |
| Monthly Income (estimated) | Approximately Rs 1.02 lakh (declared annual self income FY 2020 to 2021, Rs 12.24 lakh, pension and partnership income) |
| Twitter/X | Not publicly confirmed |
| instagram.com/surinder.singh.sodhi | |
| facebook.com/olympiansurindersodhi | |
| YouTube | Not publicly confirmed |
| Official Website | Not publicly confirmed |
Surinder Singh Sodhi Election History
| Year | Constituency | Party | Result | Votes | Vote Share | Notes |
| 2022 | Jalandhar Cantonment, Jalandhar | AAP | Lost (2nd place) | 35,928 | 27.99% | Lost to INC’s Pargat Singh by 5,808 votes; led early rounds of counting |
Surinder Singh Sodhi Hockey Career Record
| Tournament | Year | Result | Goals Scored |
| Asian Games, Bangkok | 1978 | Silver medal | Not publicly confirmed |
| World Cup, Buenos Aires | 1978 | Not publicly confirmed | Not publicly confirmed |
| Olympic Games, Moscow | 1980 | Gold medal | 15 (record for an Indian at an Olympics) |
| Champions Trophy, Amsterdam | 1982 | Not publicly confirmed | Not publicly confirmed (team captain) |
| World Cup, Bombay | 1982 | Not publicly confirmed | Not publicly confirmed |
Surinder Singh Sodhi Events
| Year | Event |
| 22 June 1957 | Born in Jalandhar, Punjab |
| School | Attended Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Ladowali Road, Jalandhar |
| 1975 | Played on India’s New Zealand tour and the Lahore international tournament |
| 1978 | Represented India at the Asian Games (silver medal) and the Buenos Aires World Cup |
| 1980 | Scored 15 goals at the Moscow Olympics, including two in the final against Spain; India won gold |
| 1982 | Served as team captain at the Champions Trophy, Amsterdam; played in the Bombay World Cup |
| 1983 | Awarded the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award by the Punjab government |
| Post 1982 | Joined the Indian Police Service; served in Punjab Police |
| 1993 | Awarded the Kathen Police Sewa Medal |
| 1994 | Awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Services |
| 1997 | Awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India |
| 2004 | Honoured by Pakistan at an event honouring four former Indian Olympians |
| Career | Rose to the rank of Inspector General of Police, Punjab |
| 2016 | Joined the Aam Aadmi Party |
| 2016 to 2021 | Briefly associated with Congress before returning to AAP in February 2021 |
| February 2021 | Rejoined the Aam Aadmi Party |
| 2022 | Fielded as AAP candidate for Jalandhar Cantonment Assembly constituency |
| 10 March 2022 | Lost the Jalandhar Cantonment election to Congress’s Pargat Singh by 5,808 votes |
Surinder Singh Sodhi Early Life and Family
Surinder Singh Sodhi was born on 22 June 1957 in Jalandhar, Punjab, into a Sikh family. He attended Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School on Ladowali Road, Jalandhar, in his formative years. His father’s name is Gurbachan Singh, as recorded in his 2022 Election Commission affidavit. Hockey was a natural path given his environment: Jalandhar had produced generations of Indian hockey players, and Sodhi would go on to represent that tradition at the highest level.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Father
His father’s name is Gurbachan Singh, as confirmed in his 2022 Election Commission affidavit.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Mother
His mother’s name is not publicly disclosed in any official or credible media record.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Siblings and Family Background
Details about siblings are not publicly confirmed. His wife is a retired Associate Professor, as listed in his 2022 Election Commission affidavit, with a substantial property portfolio held in her name reflecting her own independent financial standing. Her name is not disclosed in any available public record.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Education
Surinder Singh Sodhi completed his schooling at Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Ladowali Road, Jalandhar, and attended Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, which was a major feeder institution for Punjab’s hockey talent. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from Punjab University, Chandigarh, in 1989, well into his career in the Indian Police Service. His Election Commission affidavit categorises his educational qualification as Graduate.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Career
Surinder Singh Sodhi built two full and distinguished careers over five decades: first as one of India’s finest centre forwards in international hockey, and then as a senior officer in the Indian Police Service.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Hockey Career
Surinder Singh Sodhi played competitive international hockey from approximately 1975 through 1982. As a centre forward, he was noted for his pace, goal-scoring instinct, and ability to finish under pressure. He participated in India’s New Zealand tour and the 1975 Lahore international tournament, and went on to represent India at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, where India won a silver medal, and at the 1978 World Cup in Buenos Aires.
His defining moment came at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. India entered the tournament in a weakened field due to the American-led boycott of the Games and emerged as gold medallists after a campaign in which Surinder Singh Sodhi was the outstanding individual performer. He scored 15 goals across the tournament, including five against Tanzania and four against Cuba in earlier rounds, and crucially scored the first two goals of the final against Spain, helping India to a 4 to 3 victory and the country’s eighth Olympic gold medal in hockey, its first in 16 years. His 15-goal tally surpassed the previous record of 14 goals set by the legendary Udham Singh at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, making Sodhi the highest goal scorer by an Indian player in Olympic hockey history. He was also the most scoring player of the entire 1980 Games, across all nations.
He went on to captain India at the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amsterdam, his final international tournament, reflecting the trust the national setup placed in him at the end of his playing days. He was awarded the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award by the Punjab government in 1983, and the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting honour, by the Government of India in 1997, a recognition that came with a degree of delay but confirmed his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. In 2004, he was one of four former Indian Olympians honoured in Pakistan at a sporting goodwill event.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Police Career
After retiring from competitive hockey, Surinder Singh Sodhi joined the Indian Police Service, serving in the Punjab cadre for over two decades. He was awarded the Kathen Police Sewa Medal in 1993 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Services in 1994, recognitions reflecting effective and distinguished service within the force. He rose to the rank of Inspector General of Police, one of the senior-most positions within a state police cadre, before retiring from active service.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Political Journey and Elections
Surinder Singh Sodhi first joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2016, following his retirement from the Punjab Police. He subsequently had a brief association with the Congress party before returning to AAP in February 2021, in a rejoining that was confirmed by ESPN’s March 2022 election coverage. The Aam Aadmi Party fielded him as its candidate for the Jalandhar Cantonment Assembly constituency in the 2022 Punjab election, setting up one of the most widely reported sporting matchups in the state’s political history: a contest between two former Indian hockey internationals, both Olympians, both Arjuna Awardees, on opposite sides of the political aisle.
His opponent, sitting Punjab Sports Minister and Congress MLA Pargat Singh, a two time Olympian who captained India at the 1992 and 1996 Games, was seeking a third consecutive Assembly win from the seat. During campaigning, Pargat declared himself the “trendsetter” and “established politician.” Surinder Singh Sodhi responded with the now widely quoted line: “Loha hi lohe ko kaata hai, toh kaat denge,” meaning “Only iron can cut iron, so we will cut it,” a sporting metaphor that captured the competitive spirit of the contest.
The 2022 result denied Sodhi a historic distinction. He polled 35,928 votes, a 27.99% vote share, and actually led in the early stages of vote counting before Pargat Singh pulled ahead. The final margin of 5,808 votes meant Sodhi narrowly missed becoming one of only a handful of Olympic gold medallists to have won elected political office in India. If he had won, he would have been the first Olympic gold medallist to win state legislative office in India in approximately 55 years, following Jaipal Munda, the former Indian hockey captain and 1928 Olympic gold medallist who served three terms in the Lok Sabha in the 1950s.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Religion and Community
What is Surinder Singh Sodhi Religion
Surinder Singh Sodhi follows the Sikh faith.
What is Surinder Singh Sodhi Caste or Community
His specific caste or community is not publicly confirmed in any official record or credible media source.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Personal Life and Relationships
Is Surinder Singh Sodhi Married
Yes, Surinder Singh Sodhi is married.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Wife
His wife is a retired Associate Professor, as recorded in his 2022 Election Commission affidavit. Her name is not publicly confirmed. Her declared annual income, which was predominantly from savings account interest and pension earnings, was Rs 4.93 lakh for FY 2020 to 2021, having been substantially higher in earlier years when she was still working.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Children
Details about children are not publicly disclosed in any official or credible source.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Surinder Singh Sodhi’s height, weight, eye colour, and hair colour are not confirmed in any official record or verified media source at this time, though as a former elite centre forward in field hockey he is known for having maintained a fit, athletic build throughout his playing and service career.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Net Worth and Earnings
Surinder Singh Sodhi declared total assets of Rs 6,96,38,468 (approximately Rs 6.96 crore) in his 2022 Election Commission affidavit, with declared liabilities of Rs 21,35,974 tied entirely to an LIC Housing Finance housing loan in his spouse’s name. His immovable assets of Rs 4.88 crore include two residential properties in Atwal Colony, Jalandhar, a residential property in Urban Estate, Kapurthala, agricultural land in village Harta, Hoshiarpur, and a non agricultural plot in Atwal Colony, with the bulk of these held in his spouse’s name. His movable assets of Rs 2.07 crore include bank and fixed deposits worth Rs 1.32 crore held across multiple SBI, HDFC Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, and PNB accounts, gold jewellery valued at Rs 24.06 lakh, and three vehicles collectively worth Rs 11 lakh, LIC and insurance policies worth Rs 14.99 lakh, an EPF balance of Rs 21.85 lakh, and a capital stake in a partnership firm called The American Institute of Consultant worth Rs 1.82 lakh. His declared income sources are pension, investment from savings, and partnership firm profit.
| Source | Estimated Amount |
| Total declared assets (2022 EC affidavit) | Rs 6,96,38,468 |
| Immovable assets (2022) | Rs 4,88,99,000 |
| Movable assets (2022) | Rs 2,07,39,468 |
| Residential properties (2022) | Rs 3,34,19,000 |
| Agricultural land, village Harta, Hoshiarpur (2022) | Rs 63,50,000 |
| Non agricultural plot, Atwal Colony (2022) | Rs 91,30,000 |
| Bank deposits and FDRs, self and spouse (2022) | Rs 1,32,53,123 |
| Gold jewellery, self and spouse (2022) | Rs 24,06,400 |
| Vehicles, self (2022) | Rs 11,00,000 |
| EPF balance (2022) | Rs 21,84,673 |
| Declared self income (FY 2020 to 2021 ITR) | Rs 12,23,960 |
| Declared spouse income (FY 2020 to 2021 ITR) | Rs 4,93,142 |
| Declared liabilities (2022) | Rs 21,35,974 |
Surinder Singh Sodhi Social Media
| Platform | Handle | Followers | Notes |
| facebook.com/olympiansurindersodhi | Not publicly confirmed | Official page under his Olympian and political identity | |
| instagram.com/surinder.singh.sodhi | Not publicly confirmed | Active account; linked on his Wikipedia page | |
| Twitter/X | Not publicly confirmed | Not publicly confirmed | No verified account identified |
| YouTube | Not publicly confirmed | Not publicly confirmed | No verified account identified |
Surinder Singh Sodhi maintains verified Facebook and Instagram accounts under his Olympian and political identity, with the Facebook handle named explicitly as “Olympian Surinder Sodhi,” reflecting the primacy of his sporting identity in his public persona.
Surinder Singh Sodhi Controversies
According to his 2022 Election Commission affidavit, Surinder Singh Sodhi declared no pending or convicted criminal cases at the time of filing. No major public controversies have been documented in credible media sources reviewed for this profile.
Lesser Known Facts About Surinder Singh Sodhi
- His 15 goals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics surpassed a 24-year-old record set by the legendary Udham Singh at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and remain the highest tally by any Indian player in Olympic hockey history.
- He scored the first two goals of the 1980 Olympic final against Spain, helping India secure a 4 to 3 victory and its first gold medal in 16 years, its eighth overall in Olympic hockey.
- He was honoured in Pakistan in 2004 at an event recognising four former Indian Olympians, a rare sporting goodwill gesture across the India-Pakistan boundary.
- His 2022 electoral opponent, Pargat Singh, competed at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics as India’s captain, making their Jalandhar Cantonment contest one of the most decorated sporting matchups in Indian electoral history by combined medal count.
- He actually led the vote count in the early rounds of the 2022 Jalandhar Cantonment tally before Pargat Singh overtook him in later rounds, meaning he came genuinely close to winning before the final margin of 5,808 votes was settled.
- His declared assets are held predominantly in his wife’s name, including the largest residential property (valued at Rs 1.98 crore) in Atwal Colony, Jalandhar, and the housing loan liability, reflecting a family financial structure that concentrates immovable assets on the spouse’s side.
- He partnered in a consulting firm, The American Institute of Consultant, as one of his declared income sources, an unusual business interest for a retired police officer turned politician in Punjab.
Surinder Singh Sodhi FAQ
Who is Surinder Singh Sodhi?
Surinder Singh Sodhi is a former Indian field hockey player, 1980 Olympic gold medallist, Arjuna Awardee, retired Inspector General of Police, and Aam Aadmi Party politician. He is best known for scoring 15 goals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the highest ever tally by an Indian player in Olympic hockey.
How old is Surinder Singh Sodhi?
He was born on 22 June 1957, making him 68 years old as of 2026.
What is Surinder Singh Sodhi’s net worth?
His declared total assets per the 2022 Election Commission affidavit are Rs 6,96,38,468 (approximately Rs 6.96 crore), with declared liabilities of Rs 21.36 lakh.
Is Surinder Singh Sodhi married?
Yes. His wife is a retired Associate Professor; her name is not publicly confirmed.
What is Surinder Singh Sodhi’s religion?
He follows the Sikh faith.
Who is Surinder Singh Sodhi’s father?
His father’s name is Gurbachan Singh, as confirmed in his 2022 Election Commission affidavit.
What is Surinder Singh Sodhi known for?
He is known for being India’s highest scoring player in Olympic hockey history (15 goals at Moscow 1980), for winning the Arjuna Award in 1997, for retiring from the Punjab Police as Inspector General, and for narrowly losing the 2022 Jalandhar Cantonment Assembly election to fellow Olympian Pargat Singh.
What records did Surinder Singh Sodhi set at the 1980 Olympics?
He scored 15 goals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the highest tally by an Indian player in Olympic hockey history, surpassing the previous record of 14 goals set by Udham Singh at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He was also the highest scoring player of the entire tournament across all nations.
What was the 2022 Jalandhar Cantonment election result?
Pargat Singh of Congress won the seat with 41,736 votes (32.63%). Surinder Singh Sodhi of AAP finished second with 35,928 votes (27.99%), a margin of 5,808 votes. Sodhi had led the count in the early rounds before Pargat overtook him.
When did Surinder Singh Sodhi join AAP?
He first joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2016 following his retirement from the police, briefly associated with Congress in between, and formally rejoined AAP in February 2021 ahead of the 2022 Punjab election.
Sources
MyNeta, Punjab 2022 Affidavit, Surinder Singh Sodhi,
https://myneta.info/punjab2022/candidate.php?candidate_id=94
Olympedia, Surinder Singh Sodhi,
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19296
ESPN, Pargat Singh 1, Surinder Sodhi 0 in battle of hockey legends,
https://www.espn.com/field-hockey/story/_/id/33467225/punjab-elections-2022-pargat-singh-surinder-sodhi-battle-hockey-legends
The Bridge, Politics 1, Olympics 0, How Punjab elections pitted a hockey gold medallist against a 2-time Olympian,
https://thebridge.in/hockey/partap-singh-surinder-sodhi-politics-olympics-punjab-elections-29938
The Print, Jalandhar Cantt’s election Olympics bucks Punjab trend, Congress’ Pargat beats AAP’s Sodhi,
https://theprint.in/politics/jalandhar-cantts-election-olympics-bucks-punjab-trend-congress-pargat-beats-aaps-sodhi/864028/
Sikhs in Hockey, Surinder Sodhi,
http://www.sikhsinhockey.com/Default.aspx?id=597243
Surjit Hockey Alumni, Surinder Singh Sodhi IPS Retired,
http://www.surjithockey.com/alumni/members_detail.html?id=281
Yes Punjab, Surinder Singh Sodhi AAP Candidate from Jalandhar Cantt,
https://yespunjab.com/surinder-singh-sodhi-aap-candidate-from-jalandhar-cantt-for-2022-punjab-assembly-elections/
Facebook, olympiansurindersodhi,
https://www.facebook.com/olympiansurindersodhi/