Wolverhampton coach and community leader honoured for lifetime of service to sport and community
A Wolverhampton-born sports coach and community leader has been recognised by the University of Wolverhampton for his outstanding contribution to sport and social impact.
Ranjit Singh, head coach of Wolverhampton Wrestling Club and CEO Projects, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the university in recognition of decades of work empowering people through sport, volunteering and humanitarian action.
Mr Singh has played a central role in transforming Wolverhampton Wrestling Club into a nationally recognised centre of excellence. Under his leadership, the club has produced multiple national champions, Commonwealth Games medallists and former Olympians, while also breaking down gender barriers by actively supporting and developing female athletes. The club is widely praised for its inclusive approach, welcoming participants of all ages and backgrounds.
His impact extends far beyond the wrestling mat. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Singh converted the wrestling club into a foodbank and community support hub, providing daily meals and essential supplies to hundreds of vulnerable residents. He also led a volunteer initiative that produced and distributed more than 10,000 items of personal protective equipment to care homes, frontline workers and West Midlands Police.
In recognition of this work, Wolverhampton Wrestling Club received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2022. Mr Singh was also named to the national FA Lionhearts Squad for his pandemic efforts, ranking second nationally.
More recently, he helped bring the Kabaddi World Cup to Wolverhampton in 2025. The tournament, hosted outside Asia for the first time in 2023, saw seven women and four men selected from the club’s own development pathways, further raising the city’s profile on the global sporting stage.
Alongside his sporting achievements, Mr Singh continues to champion initiatives focused on mental health, youth crime prevention, education and autism awareness, with a strong emphasis on supporting neurodiverse individuals and those with complex social needs.
Speaking after receiving the award, Mr Singh said: “I would like to thank Wolverhampton University for this great recognition in service to our diverse communities.”
