From funding Olympians to founding cricket tournaments, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala shaped India’s early sporting story
In an era when India was still under colonial rule, a ruler from Punjab viewed sport not just as leisure, but as a path to international pride. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, remembered today for his flamboyance and royal grandeur, also became one of the earliest patrons of Indian sport. His vision went far beyond cricket grounds and polo fields. He laid the foundation for institutions, financed athletes, and backed India’s first Olympic campaigns, leaving behind a legacy that continues to power Indian sport.
The Maharaja’s love for cricket was well known. In 1911, he captained the first Indian cricket team to tour England—a milestone that symbolized a country’s desire to stand alongside its colonial rulers on equal footing. More than just a player, he became a builder of institutions. His contribution to the creation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) gave Indian cricket an organized voice.
He also donated generously to the establishment of the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic competition. Even today, the tournament remains the proving ground for countless Indian cricketers. For the Maharaja, cricket was not merely a sport—it was a way to inspire a nation still finding its feet.
Bhupinder Singh’s flair extended to infrastructure. In Chail, Himachal Pradesh, he developed what remains the highest cricket ground in the world. Built on a hilltop once meant for polo, the ground continues to stand as a symbol of his passion for sport in unlikely places.
He also supported other major projects, including the construction of stadiums in Amritsar and Mumbai. The Brabourne Stadium in Bombay, later home to iconic matches, bore his influence. In a time when India had few sporting arenas, his vision ensured athletes had the space to train and compete.
The Maharaja’s role in India’s Olympic journey is perhaps his most significant contribution. In 1923, he funded Dalip Singh, the long jumper who became the first Sikh to compete at the 1924 Paris Olympics. It was an act that quietly signaled India’s arrival on the Olympic stage.
In 1928, Bhupinder Singh became president of the Indian Olympic Association, a position he held until his death in 1938. Under his leadership, India sent its hockey team to the Amsterdam Olympics. The result was historic—India’s first Olympic gold in hockey. That victory marked the beginning of a golden era, and behind it stood the Maharaja’s belief that India belonged on the global stage.
The Maharaja’s generosity was not limited to cricket and hockey. He extended his support to wrestling, a sport deeply rooted in Indian soil. In 1928, he organized the famous contest between Gama Pehalwan, India’s greatest wrestler, and Stanislaus Zbyszko of Poland. Gama’s victory was celebrated as proof of Indian strength, and the Maharaja’s patronage ensured such legends had platforms to showcase their talent.
This wide-ranging support showed that he saw sport as a national project, not just a royal hobby.
Perhaps the strongest testament to Bhupinder Singh’s vision lies in the institutions that carry his name today. His Moti Bagh Palace was later transformed into the National Institute of Sports, now part of the Sports Authority of India. Spread across hundreds of acres, it remains Asia’s largest sports training institute. Generations of athletes have passed through its gates, unknowingly tied to the Maharaja’s dream.
In 2019, Punjab further honored him by establishing the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University, a specialized center for sports education, science, and coaching. His name continues to inspire future athletes and administrators.
