Punjab: The 64-year-old Hakam Singh Bhattal who was Asian Games gold medallist athlete and Dhyan Chand award winner passed away this morning in a hospital in Sangrur, Punjab, As the leading news agency ANI reported. He was seriously ill in Sangrur hospital, battling serious liver and kidney ailments.

Worth mention here Hakam Singh had also served the nation as havildar in the 6 Sikh Regiment after joining the Army in 1972. His family was unable to get Hakam treated at a multi-speciality hospital. Bhattal was also the native villager of former Punjab chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

Hakam was bestowed the Dhyan Chand award on August 29, 2008, by then President Pratibha Patil. The award is conferred for lifetime achievement to honor sportspersons, who after their retirement from active sporting career, continue their service in encouragement of sports. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a scroll of honour and a commemorative inscription.

Talking about his achievements Hakam, then a havildar in the Army had bagged the gold medal in the men's 20km walk in the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games, creating a new record on the history. He had also repeated his performance next year in the Asian Track and Field Championship at Tokyo and made the nation proud.