The first Sikh athlete or sportsperson to represent India in the Olympics was late Brigadier Dalip Singh. Born at Dolon village in Punjab on April 27, 1899, he took part in the 1924 Olympic Games held in Paris. In that championship, India sent a small team of seven athletes. In this seven-man squad, the two Sikh athletes, Dalip and Palam made their debut. He was the captain of the Indian athletic team in that Olympics. Dalip Singh had his schooling in Mission School. After that he joined Forman Christian College and Law College in Lahore. He showed his potential of becoming a good sportsman at School. In fact, he emerged as a fine athlete and showed great skill in 100, 200 and 440 yards, 120 yards hurdles and also in long jump during the university days. He did play hockey and cricket as well.

Dalip Singh had missed the chance to participate in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics. He could not even have made to the Paris Olympics Games. But as he got the patronage and help from the late Magarajadhiraj Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, he eventually made it. Dalip Singh was not only an excellent athlete but also was a good hockey player. He was scheduled to play for the hockey team, Patiala Tigers when the trials for the Paris Olympics were to be held at Lahore. There, the Maharaja of Patiala came to recognise his worth and then decided to help him to take a well-deserved place in the seven-man athletic team of India.

Though the team could not be able to bring home any success, two among the Indian athletes performed really well and the better between was Dalip Singh. He closely missed a mark in the long jump event. If he was successful, that could have earned him a place among the first six. Dalip Singh was also the first Indian to be the torchbearer at the inaugural Asian Games at Delhi in 1951. Dalip Singh can be described as a very distinguished man. In World War II, he served the Patiala Infantry with bravery. He had joined the Patiala army in 1924. For his services, he was awarded the prestigious M.B.E (Medal for British Empire).