Tejbir Singh is a utility forward. He makes an impact on the proceedings on the field, when given a chance. When India lost the Champions Trophy bronze medal play-off in 2003, Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman wondered as to why Tejbir Singh was not used in the match. One might agree or disagree with Tahir Zaman’s reasoning, but the coach had made a point. That Tejbir is a player feared by the other team’s coaches. Six-foot tall Tejbir, struggling to stabilize his slot in the senior side, is not just another player. It’s just that a mutation, as they say in microbiology, is yet to occur in his career.
Younger of the two sons of a bank employee Tejbir Singh shot into fame on the national scene in his debut assignment itself. He pounced on a penalty corner rebound against visiting Germany in the Hyderabad Test on March 1, 2001 for the only win India had in the 3-match series. Soon, he was taken in the ranks of Punjab Police as Assistant Sub-Inspector along with his academy-mate Jugraj Singh. Tejbir joined Surjit Academy in 1993 and played for both Lyllapur Khalsa Senior Secondary School and DAV College in his formative days. He attended the Pune Under-18 camp in 2000 but missed the bus for the inaugural Sub-Junior Asia Cup. However, he made it to the senior team in only his first camp for the seniors with the return of Cedric D’Souza as coach in 2001. He toured Malaysia and New Zealand where he was used in all in four Test matches.
However, he missed the World Cup Qualifier and Dhaka Prime Minister Gold Cup before making it to the 2001 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and the Junior World Cup. He scored a goal against Scotland at Hobart. After Rajinder Singh took over the coaching mantle mid-way through 2002, Tejbir won his confidence and was almost in all his teams save Afro-Asian Games.