Satyapal Singh (born 1 January 1978) is an Indian athletics coach who specialises in para-athletics. He has served as a coach of the Indian para-athletics team and has coached Paralympic medalists, including Praveen Kumar. He received the Dronacharya Award in 2012 for Para Sports (Athletics) and the Padma Shri in 2025 for Sports.
Early life Singh was born on 1 January 1978 in Machhri village, Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh. His father was a police officer in Uttar Pradesh and later became involved in athletics while posted in Jammu and Kashmir. Singh has attributed his interest in athletics to his father's involvement in the sport. He studied physical education and sports and held qualification including a B.Sc. in Physical Education, B.P.Ed., M.P.Ed., M.Phil. and Ph.D., as well as a diploma in sports coaching.
Career Singh began his coaching career in 2004 after competing as a national-level athlete. The Sports Authority of India appointed him as an official coach for para-athletic competitions in 2007. He was the athletics coach at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, where India won one gold and four silver medals, and coached the Indian team at the 2011 International Blind Sports Federation World Championship, where it won one silver and four bronze medals.
By 2016, he was training para-athletes at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi, while he accompanied athletes to national and international events at his own expenses.
Singh coached the para-athletics team at international competitions, including the 2008 Paralympic Games and 2016 Paralympic Games, the 2010 Asian Games, the 2014 Asian Games, 2018 Asian Games and the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Athletes he has coached have included Paralympic medalists Praveen Kumar and Devendra Jhajharia, as well as Paralympian Ankur Dhama. Singh was among the coaches of Indian para-athletes discussed in coverage of the sport in 2021, with his coaching record and work with para-athletes noted.
Awards and honours 2012 – Dronacharya Award, Para Sports (Athletics)
2025 – Padma Shri, Sports
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