Diljit Singh (Dil) Bahra

I was born in Maji Mazuri, Kenya and studied at Lake Primary School, West Primary School and Menengai High School in Nakuru. I played hockey for the school team and Nakuru Rangers, a club run by Harvinder Singh Marwa, who was a Kenyan International at the time and he went on to represent Kenya at the  Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972 Olympic Games.

I emigrated to the United Kingdom in May 1967 and joined the British Army the following year. I served with the Royal Engineers in UK, Germany, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Kenya. I played hockey for various Army units where I was based and represented the Army team in Cyprus in 1972 - 74 season. I was also a member of the famous Exiles Hockey Club in Cyprus during this period.

On leaving the Armed Services I joined the Metropolitan Police Force, London in April 1975. During my 32 years police service, I was involved in police hockey as a player, coach, team manager, umpire, liaison officer and an administrator.

I formed the British Police Hockey Team in 1981 and was the Team Coach / Manager for a period of 15 years. I qualified as a Level 2 Hockey coach with The Hockey Association in 1981 and umpired at county Level for Surrey Umpires Hockey Association and Kent Umpires Hockey Association. 

I have been involved in hockey at National, European and World level. I was on the organising committee for the World Cup in London in 1986. I was a technical officer for England Hockey and the Media Officer for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the Junior World Cup in 1997, Women's Olympic Qualifier in 2000, Men's  Champions Trophy in Cologne, Germany in 2002 and the Women's  Champions Challenge in Catania, Italy in 2003.

I was awarded The Hockey Association National Award of Merit 'for outstanding service to the game at National level' in March 1995.

I was invited to be on a Judging panel in New Delhi to select the top 10 ‘Sardars of Hockey' in April 2006.  Balbir Singh Senior was judged as the top ‘Sardar of Hockey'.

After retiring from the police service in January 2007, I set up my websites - Sikh Hockey Olympians and Hockey on Stamps. In January 2013 I set up Sikhs in Hockey website.

I have been a member of The Hockey Writers' Club since 1981 and was the Hon. Secretary of the Club from 2001 to 2012. I am a Vice President of the Club.

I was the Media Overseers co-ordinator for the AIPS Hockey commission from 2007 to 2010. I was the Media Overseer at the Delhi 2010 World Cup.

I was a member of the OPNS Flash Quote Reporters team at London 2012 Olympic Games. 

I have travelled to India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, USA, Chile and most of the European countries covering hockey in some capacities.

I have built up a strong global network of hockey contacts. Although hockey is my passion, I now mainly focus on Olympic field hockey and specialise in Sikh Hockey Olympians worldwide and Kenya Hockey at Olympics. I have also developed a keen interest on hockey stamps.

I was one of the founder members of The Hockey Museum in 2011, a founder Trustee from 2012 until stepping down in December 2018. In January 2019 I was honoured to be invited to become a Life Member of The Hockey Museum.

On 1st February 2020 I was honoured with Hon. Life Membership of Sikh Union Club, Nairobi, Kenya.