Bhupinder Singh Rawat: Remembering the Scooter who raced his way to success in Indian football
The big moment for Rawat came when he was selected for the Indian team for the Merdeka Cup in 1969. He was in the team with two other buddies from Dehradun – Amar Bahadur and Ranjit Thapa. India failed to impress in the Merdeka Cup and lost against Western Australia and Burma.
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- ‘I extend my sincerest condolences to his family in this hour of sorrow,’ Chaubey said.
- Known affectionately by fans as ‘Scooter’ for his quickness and agility despite a diminutive frame, Rawat played a pivotal role in the 1969 Merdeka Cup in Malaysia.
- India men’s and women’s football teams are governed by the AIFF, and represent India in various international football tournaments.
- India failed to impress in the Merdeka Cup and lost against Western Australia and Burma.
- As ex-India footballer Shyam Thapa states, “He was one of the fastest ever centre forwards produced by Indian football.
- He was in the team with two other buddies from Dehradun – Amar Bahadur and Ranjit Thapa.
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⚡Ex-Indian Footballer Bhupinder Singh Rawat Dies at 85
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey paid tribute to Rawat, recalling him as a ‘classy winger’ and prolific scorer. ‘I extend my sincerest condolences to his family in this hour of sorrow,’ Chaubey said. Rawat’s remarkable career included playing for top teams like Delhi Garrison, Gorkha Brigade, and Mafatlal, and representing Services and Maharashtra in the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy.
Former India Midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat Dies At 85
Bhupinder Singh Rawat, a former India midfielder who dazzled fans with his speed and skill, has died at the age of 85, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF). He scored 12 goals in six matches to become the highest scorer of one of the oldest football tournaments in India. The old records of the Durand Cup are not available, but Mohammed Habib of East Bengal equalled Rawat’s 12-goal record in 1972. Bhupi Dai was on fire in the 1966 Durand Cup, scoring two goals each against the Sikh Regiment, Mohammedan Sporting, and Leader’s Club, and four goals against RAC (Bikaner). Rawat considered his full-length diving header against Mohun Bagan as the best goal of his 1966 Durand tournament. The Gorkha Brigade beat Mohun Bagan 2-0 in the semi-final to advance to the final.
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A speedy winger of the 1960s and 1970s, Rawat was a member of the Indian team in the 1969 Merdeka tournament in Malaysia. In domestic football, he played for top teams for Santosh Trophy Tournaments. A darling of the crowd for his speed and ability to cut through the rival defence despite his diminutive figure, Rawat was nicknamed ‘Scooter’ by the fans. A darling of the crowd for his speed and ability to cut through the rival defence despite his diminutive figure, Rawat was nicknamed “Scooter” by the fans.
“Bhupinder Singh Rawat was a classy winger and also a prolific scorer, who served the game with distinction,” the AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said in his condolence message. As ex-India footballer Shyam Thapa states, “He was one of the fastest ever centre forwards produced by Indian football. After playing for India, coaching and watching football for so many years, I can say I have never seen a striker like Bhupi Dai.
The All India Football Federation condoled the death of former India winger Bhupinder Singh Rawat, who passed away in Surat, Gujarat, on June 29, 2024, after a brief illness. A speedy winger of the 1960s and 1970s, Rawat played for India in the 1969 Merdeka tournament in Malaysia. “Bhupinder Singh Rawat was a click this link here now skillful footballer of his time and the spectators loved to watch him play. On behalf of the Indian football fraternity, I condole his passing away,” said AIFF acting secretary general, M Satyanarayan.
In domestic football, he played for top teams like Delhi Garrison, Gorkha Brigade and Mafatlal. He represented Services and Maharashtra in the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy. “He was a skillful footballer of his time and the spectators loved to watch him play. On behalf of the Indian football fraternity, I condole his passing away,” stated AIFF secretary general M Satyanarayan. A darling of the crowd for his speed and ability to cut through the rival defence despite his diminutive figure, Rawat was nicknamed “Scooter” by his fans in the stands.
Known as ‘Scooter’ in Indian football circles, Bhupinder Singh Rawat was one of India’s fastest-ever centre forwards. Despite his short stature of around 5.2 ft, Rawat could penetrate the opponent’s box in a split second, striking fear into the heart of the opposing defence. Even legendary defenders like Jarnail Singh and goalkeeper Peter Thangaraj were left awestruck by the movements of this spirited footballer. Many considered Rawat a contemporary of the iconic Indian footballer Neville D’Souza. The All India Football Federation condoled the death of former India winger Bhupinder Singh Rawat, who passed away in Surat, Gujarat, on Saturday, June 29, 2024, after a brief illness. All India Football Federation (AIFF) is the governing body of football, futsal and beach soccer in India.
Former India midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat, who played in the 1969 Merdeka Cup in Malaysia died after a brief illness, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) stated. Rawat was part of the Indian team that finished seventh in the Merdeka Cup with a win over Western Australia in a classification match. “I extend my sincerest condolences to his family in this hour of sorrow.” Bhupinder Rawat played exhibition matches against foreign clubs from the USSR (1965), Hungary (1967), and Burma (1968) in India.
It is a member of FIFA, and is affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation and South Asian Football Federation. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. India men’s and women’s football teams are governed by the AIFF, and represent India in various international football tournaments. Known affectionately by fans as ‘Scooter’ for his quickness and agility despite a diminutive frame, Rawat played a pivotal role in the 1969 Merdeka Cup in Malaysia.