Born on 20th February, 1936 in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Jarnail Singh Dhillon experienced the horrors of communal riots quite early in life. As a 13-year-old boy, Jarnail went through hell. In order to escape the hostility that ensued partition, he had to sit in a truck, motionless, for two days without food or water. The train which he boarded to Phagwara was stacked with dead bodies, soaked in blood. Witnessing the horrors of post-independence India helped Jarnail imbibe courage, something that would later be seen in his playing days.

Both Chuni and Jarnail excelled for the Indian national team, winning Gold in the Asian Games of 1962, despite Jarnail having six stitches on his head in the final game!

Jarnail scored the winner with a header! (something only a lion-hearted man could have pulled off!) He captained the Indian national football team from 1965 to 1967.

He won the Arjuna Award in 1964 and was selected as the captain of the Asian All-Star Football team, the only Indian to hold this distinction till date!

Jarnail enjoyed star status even after retiring from the game. He served as the Deputy Director of Sports for Punjab between 1985-90. He was elected as the Director between 1990-94.

He died on October 13th 2000 at the age of 64, in Vancouver, Canada, after battling an asthmatic disorder.

He was indeed the real torchbearer of Indian football.