UTV Spotboy plans to make a film on the life and times of Pan Singh Tomar, who was an icon for budding Indian athletes for his outstanding achievements in sports, especially his gold medal in the Asian Games, before he became a fugitive.
The Indian Olympic Association, ironically, has no idea who this man is. "Who is Pan Singh Tomar? The only Pan Singh I know is the father of Indian skipper M S Dhoni. I do not know any other person by that name," joked a senior official of IOA. Even Lalit Bhanot, secretary Athletics Federation of India, said told rediff.com that the AFI does not have old records though he promised to look him up.
Pan Singh Tomar was a soldier, who hailed from a small town in Madhya Pradesh. He won the steeplechase event at the Indian National Games for seven years in a row. His record stood unbeaten for 10 years. Unfortunately, he became a victim of social injustice, and turned into a dacoit in the Chambal Valley.
There are rumours that Irrfan Khan may play Tomar in the UTV Spotboy film.