Wolverhampton Coach Honored After Feeding 10,000 During COVID

When COVID-19 locked down Wolverhampton, Ranjit Singh didn't wait for someone else to help. The head coach of Wolverhampton Wrestling Club transformed his training facility into a foodbank and hand-delivered 10,000 pieces of protective equipment to care homes and key workers across the city.

Now the University of Wolverhampton has recognized his decades of service with an honorary fellowship. Singh has spent his life using sport to build up his community, coaching athletes who went on to compete in the Commonwealth Games and championing opportunities for women and neurodiverse individuals.

The club started as a family legacy. Singh's father and uncle founded it after immigrating from India, continuing their traditional wrestling practice as a way to feel at home in a new country.

"We were thrown in the deep end to build our character, our confidence, resilience levels, everything," Singh remembered. When his father retired, he took over and kept those values alive.

Under his leadership, the club has produced national champions and broken gender barriers. Singh also made history by bringing the Kabaddi World Cup to Wolverhampton last year, marking the tournament's first time leaving Asia in its 4,000-year history.

Seven women and four men from the club competed in the historic event. For Singh, seeing women take the mat represented progress he's fought hard to achieve.

The Ripple Effect

Singh's work extends far beyond athletics. He's turned the wrestling club into what he calls a lifestyle program, teaching confidence and respect alongside physical skills.

"You see a massive change in their behavior at home," he explained. The transformation happens through consistent training, community connection, and the kind of mentorship that builds character.

He's particularly focused on autism awareness and supporting people with complex social needs. The club has become a safe space where neurodiverse individuals can build strength, both physical and emotional.

"Giving back is my biggest reward and it's a culture that we have at the club," Singh told BBC Radio WM. Born and raised in Wolverhampton, he's never forgotten where he came from or who helped him get where he is.

The honorary fellowship ceremony celebrated a man who turned personal passion into community transformation. From feeding neighbors during a pandemic to putting his hometown on the world sports map, Singh proves that one person's dedication can change thousands of lives.