News for 25 May 2020
All the news for Monday 25 May 2020
Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr passes away
Triple-Olympic champion and World Cup winning manager Balbir Singh Sr. passed away in Mohali at the age of 95.
Uthra Ganesan
Hockey stalwart Balbir Singh Senior has been living with his daughter Sushbir Bhomia and grandson Kabir in Chandigarh. - Akhilesh Kumar
Three-time Olympic champion and one of the greatest ever hockey players, Balbir Singh Dosanjh passed away after prolonged illness on Monday morning.
Known as Balbir Singh Sr to all, the 95-year old had been hospitalised on May 8 after complaining of high fever and breathing problems. He suffered three cardiac arrests but had been stable since May 13. However, his condition worsened after fresh blood clot was detected in his brain and pneumonia patches in his lungs on May 18. He had been semi-comtose and on ventilator support since then.
“He died at around 6:30 this morning,” affirmed Abhijit Singh, Director Fortis Hospital, Mohali. Balbir Singh lived with his daughter Sushbir Bhomia and grandson Kabir in Chandigarh. Kabir confirmed the news.
Balbir Singh had been keeping unwell for the last few years, requiring repeated hospitalisation. “I met him last in February, along with Ajitpal Singh, in Chandigarh. He was weak, both with his recent illness and age, but that smile of his, which always had so much love and meaning, was intact. A relationship going back more than 40 years has come to an end,” an emotional Ashok Kumar, member of the 1975 World Cup when Balbir Singh was manager, said.
“I will always remember him as a soft-spoken person who never ever raised his voice. For someone from Punjab, and Punjab Police, a centre-forward, there was never a trace of aggression in his personality. And at a time when sports in general in India was often about where you came from, his first concern was always the team and country,” Ashok added.
India’s lone individual gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra was among the first to condole the death. “Saddened to hear of the demise of one of India's most celebrated Olympians, Balbir Singh Sr. Athletes and role models such as him come very rarely, and it was an honour to know him, and I hope his example will continue to inspire athletes from around the world,” Bindra wrote.
Hockey India and the Indian Olympic Association too expressed their grief, as did members of the current Indian team. “I will cherish the simplicity, humility and pride that he brought to bear in his own charming way. His ready wit and willingness to share his vast knowledge were stand out features. Indeed, Balbir Singh ji leaves behind a rich legacy that cuts across all sport and physical boundaries,” IOA president Narinder Batra said.
A key member of the Indian side at the Olympics from 1948-1956, Balbir Singh was also the captain and is considered one of the best centre-forwards of all times. He was also the manager of the only World Cup winning Indian side in 1975, the first sportsperson to be awarded the Padma Shri (1957) and the lone Indian and hockey player to be included in the IOC’s ‘Olympic Icons”, a select group of 16 all-time Olympic greats honoured during the London Olympics.
Sportstar
A legacy carved in GOLD
Team S2H
When Independent India craved for heroes, here was one. Balbir Singh Dosanj, or simply suffixed Senior, the lanky athletic centre-forward emerged as the first sporting icon of the new nation that had just shed its tag of being a British colony.
The immaculate forward embarked on his international career a year before the country gained Independence in 1947 but shot to fame when he played a crucial role in India’s fourth Olympic gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics.
And how! He scored two goals in a 4-0 rout of Great Britain in the final, not just dealing the hosts their first defeat but settling the issue of world supremacy once and for all in the first ever meeting of the only nations that had ever won Olympic gold.
Balbir’s speed, swerve and artistry mesmerized the British after his early electrifying goals at the famous Wembley stadium, a little over 70 years ago, unsettled the former colonial masters.
In doing so, the young forward inherited the legacy of Dhyan Chand at the London Olympics so seamlessly and elegantly.
The epochal show engineered by Balbir in the British capital paved way for free India to win many more laurels in the field of sports.
The handsome sardar added two more Olympic gold medals – 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne — to his trophy showcase, each of which is a rich saga in itself.
At the Melbourne Olympics, he wore the gold medal as captain and it provided a theme for his famous book ‘Golden Hat-Trick – My Hockey Playing Days’.
In his long hockey career, which spanned almost eight decades, he had seen everything. He painfully witnessed how the country’s vast hockey resources were divided and depleted by partition.
He bore the pain of seeing his own team-mates turning hostile while representing a new nation, how the Anglo-Indians, the backbone of India’s hockey legacy, were in a hurry to migrate shortly after Independence. And he witnessed partition leading to bloodbath and devastation.
Hockey was the only thing that kept Balbir’s morale up in those days of anguish.
Son of a freedom fighter, the young Balbir refused to join the British Police when offers were made. He fled to distant Delhi to escape such a prospect but was chased, hand-cuffed and brought to Phillur where undivided Punjab’s police training institute was located.
Thankfully, India won freedom shortly later and his pain of being a policeman of a colonial power disappeared.
This kind of patriotic fervor is what made Balbir Sr a unique personality. Patriotism was his very persona. He offered all his three gold medals to the war fund in the 1960s which was justifiably rejected by the then Punjab chief minister Pratap Singh Kairon.
Balbir even risked his life for the country’s honour and it wasn’t restricted to preventing violence during partition. It went far beyond.
What happened in the stands of the hockey stadium at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics merits mention.
The Khalistan movement was at its peak and many adherents disturbed India’s matches by sloganeering, even trying to set the flag afire.
Balbir, then living in Canada, had travelled to Los Angeles to witness the tournament. He was in the stands, pained at what he was seeing.
The golden hat-trick hero of Independent India risked life and limb while approaching the frenzied zealots for peace.
Balbir detailed those moments to this writer often. He was unharmed and saved the tricolor from being burnt and his act of bravery spoke for his unstinted patriotism.
He breathed hockey, so to say. “Hockey is the other woman in my life,” he often said.
Balbir Singh standing next to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his book releasing ceremony
His love for the game was not superficial and was not a route to career advancement. It was platonic and he was one who this writer found thinking about hockey seemingly always. That’s why he donated all his memorabilia to Sports Authority of India for a Museum that never came.
After all Balbir had seen it all as a player, selector, coach and manager. But he also felt the pain of seeing Indian hockey going downhill.
He counseled administrators on the way forward without caring for his own legendary status, gave innumerable interviews in his eagerness to improve things and often worked as an unofficial global ambassador of Indian hockey.
Finally, it’s not the number of goals he scored that was so significant as the manner in which they were struck.
Similarly it was not just Olympic gold medals that mattered but the juncture at which they had been won that defined Balbir as not just a hockey legend but a national icon.
BALBIR SINGH Sr Profile
Born: 10.10.1924
Position: Centre-forward
Played for: Punjab University (before and after Partition)
Profession: Punjab Police, Punjab Sports Dept.
International Debut: 1947 Ceylon Tour
1948 Olympics: Gold
1952 Olympics: Gold
1956 Olympics: Gold (Captain)
1958 Asian Games: Silver (Captain)
Manager: 1971 World Cup: Bronze
1975 World Cup: GOLD
Manager: 1982 Asian Games: Silver
UNIQUE FEAT:
Won National Championships title seven times
Flagbearer of 1952 and 1956 Olympic Contingents
Holds the record of ‘Most goals scored by an individual in an Olympic men’s hockey final (5 vs Holland at the 1952 Olympics). This is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.
First hockey player to receive Padamshree (1957)
Lit the Asian Games Flame in New Delhi (1982)
Books Authored: The Golden Hat-trick My Hockey days (1977) and The Golden Yardstick: In Quest of Hockey Excellence (2008).
Stick2Hockey.com
Balbir Singh, Indian hockey icon, passes away aged 96
By The Hockey Paper
Indian hockey icon Balbir Singh, who won three Olympic golds as a player before becoming a coach and World Cup winner, has passed away aged 96.
Singh had battled a prolonged illness and died in Chandigarh on Monday.
He won three Olympic gold medals came in London (1948), Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956) where he was captain.
Singh, pictured below, was not originally called up for the 1948 Games but was included as a forward and scored two goals in the Olympic final against GB at Wembley Stadium. In front of 25,000 fans, India won the final 4-0, their first gold as a free nation following independence.
Four years later he scored five goals in the final against Holland in a 6-1 win. His record for most goals scored by an individual in a men’s hockey final remains unbeaten today.
At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Singh played the final with an injured hand as he led India to a sixth Olympic gold medal against rivals Pakistan.
Following retirement, Singh turned to coaching where he led India to success at the 1975 World Cup, the nation’s only victory in the sport’s showpiece.
He was chosen as one of the 16 iconic Olympians across all disciplines since 1896 and was honoured by the International Olympic Committee during the London 2012 Olympics.
Singh was the oldest surviving Indian Olympic medallist, which now passes on to Keshav Dutt, a team-mate from the 1948 London Olympics.
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The Hockey Paper
Hockey icon Balbir Singh Sr dies at 95
Three-time Olympic gold medal-winning hockey legend was battling multiple health issues for over two weeks
Deepankar Sharda
Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr, a three-time gold medallist at the Olympics, died today morning at the age of 95 in a Mohali hospital. One of the greatest hockey players of all time, Singh had been battling several age-related health problems for over two weeks. He breathed his last at 6.17am.
Singh was under observation at a private hospital in Mohali after suffering a cardiac arrest earlier this month. He was admitted to the hospital in a very serious state with multiple organ failure due to bronchial pneumonia. While in hospital, he had suffered back-to-back mild cardiac arrests.
He was under ventilator support since May 12 and had tested negative for Covid-19.
He will be cremated at the Sector 25 crematorium with full state honours at 5.30 pm on Monday.
The veteran Olympian had tweeted a message on April 5 praying for safety of all amidst covid-19 outbreak
#StayHomeStaySafe #PrayersToTheAlmighty pic.twitter.com/P6Jr5F56iB
— Balbir Singh Sr. (@BalbirSenior) April 5, 2020
Last year also he spent 108 days in Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU) due to bronchial pneumonia at PGIMER.
He lived with his daughter Sushbir Bhomia and grandson Kabir Singh Bhomia at his Sector 36 residence in Chandigarh.
One of the country's greatest athletes, Singh became the only Indian among 16 legends chosen by the International Olympic Committee across the modern Olympic history. His world record for most goals scored by an individual in the men's hockey final of the Olympics remains unbeaten. Singh had scored five goals in India's 6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal match of the 1952 Helsinki Games. He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1957 and was the manager of India's World Cup-winning team in 1975.
The Tribune
Indian hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr passes away at 95
The talismanic player was 95 and is survived by his daughter Sushbir and three sons Kanwalbir, Karanbir, Gurbir.
Balbir Singh Sr , PTI
Indian hockey legend and three-time Olympic gold medalist Balbir Singh Sr passed away on Monday (May 25) after losing out his battle against multiple health issues for over two weeks.
The talismanic player was 95 and is survived by his daughter Sushbir and three sons Kanwalbir, Karanbir, Gurbir.
"He died at around 6:30 this morning," Abhijit Singh, Director Fortis Hospital, Mohali, where he was admitted on May 8.
Since May 18, Balbir Sr was in a semi-comatose state, developing a blood clot in his brain. He was first hospitalized for bronchial pneumonia with a high fever.
One of the country's most iconic athletes, Balbir Sr was the only Indian among 16 legends who got picked by the International Olympic Committee across modern Olympic history.
He still holds the prestigious world record for the most number of goals scored by an individual in the men's hockey final of the Olympics.
Daily News & Analysis
Balbir Singh Senior, three-time Olympic gold-winning hockey legend, dies at 95
File image of Balbir Singh Senior at his residence in Chandigarh. Shantanu Srivastava/Firstpost
Chandigarh: One of India's greatest hockey players, Balbir Singh Sr, died at a hospital on Monday after battling multiple health issues for over two weeks.
The legend was 95 and is survived by his daughter Sushbir and three sons Kanwalbir, Karanbir, and Gurbir.
"He died at around 6:30 this morning," Abhijit Singh, Director Fortis Hospital, Mohali, where he was admitted since 8 May, told PTI.
His maternal grandson Kabir later sent out a message stating, "Nanaji passed away this morning."
The three-time Olympic gold medallist was in a semi-comatose state since 18 May and had developed a blood clot in his brain after being first admitted to the hospital for bronchial pneumonia with high fever.
He was hospitalised after experiencing high fever and suffered three cardiac arrests during the course of his treatment.
One of the country's most accomplished athletes, the iconic centre-forward was the only Indian among 16 legends chosen by the International Olympic Committee across modern Olympic history.
His world record for most goals scored by an individual in the men's hockey final of the Olympics still remains unbeaten.
He had scored five goals in India's 6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal match of the 1952 Helsinki Games. He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1957.
Balbir Sr's three Olympic gold medals came in London (1948), Helsinki (1952) as vice-captain, and Melbourne (1956) as captain.
He was also the manager of India's only World Cup-winning side in 1975.
It was the fourth time in the past two years that the former captain and coach was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
In January last year, Balbir Sr spent more than three months in hospital because of bronchial pneumonia.
Saddened to hear of the demise of one of India's most celebrated Olympians, Balbir Singh Sr. Athletes and role models such as him come very rarely, and it was an honour to know him, and I hope his example will continue to inspire athletes from around the world!
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) May 25, 2020
My deepest condolences to the family of the legend Balbir Singh ji. I have come close to meeting him so many times but always missed it. I was a big fan and was hoping to get a picture with him one day. Sadly he now resides in our memories only. Till we meet again. @BalbirSenior — Heena SIDHU (@HeenaSidhu10) May 25, 2020
Firstpost
Legendary hockey player Balbir Singh Senior passes away
He was hospitalised on May 8 with high fever and breathing trouble. His COVID-19 test came negative.
Balbir Singh. (File Photo: IANS)
Legendary former hockey player Balbir Singh Senior died in a private hospital near here on Monday, his family said.
He was 96 years old. His condition was critical for nearly a fortnight.
He was undergoing treatment at Fortis Mohali and was in a “semi-comatose condition”.
He was hospitalised on May 8 with high fever and breathing trouble. His COVID-19 test came negative.
Balbir was part of the Indian teams that won gold at the 1948 London Olympics, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956. His record for most individual goals scored in an Olympic men’s hockey final remains unbeaten.
Balbir had set this record when he scored five goals in India’s 6-1 win over Netherlands in the gold medal match of the 1952 Games.
He was the head coach of the Indian team for the 1975 men’s World Cup, which India won and the 1971 men’s World Cup, where India earned a bronze medal. He was also conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri in 1957.
The Statesman
India's legendary Olympic hockey hero Singh dies at 95
Balbir Singh, who won three Olympic hockey golds for India and became one his country's biggest sporting heroes, has died at the age of 95, his family said. - AFP pic
NEW DELHI: Balbir Singh, who won three Olympic hockey golds for India and became one his country's biggest sporting heroes, has died at the age of 95, his family said Monday.
Singh was in teams that won the Olympic title in London in 1948 and Helsinki in 1952 and led the side that won in Melbourne in 1956. His five goals in the 6-1 defeat of the Netherlands in 1952 remain a record for an Olympic final.
India beat the former colonial power Great Britain 4-0 in the 1948 final which came only a few months after his country's troubled independence.
Singh scored two of India's goals at Wembley stadium and became one of the biggest stars of the Games. "I was on top of the world," he said later.
"It was very special to beat the former rulers in their country."
Singh was also the manager of the Indian side that won the 1975 World Cup. "He was a hard task master," said Ajit Pal Singh, who was captain of the 1975 team.
"I still remember how he imbibed, self belief and unity which helped us to win," Pal Singh told Press Trust of India news agency.
Singh was one of the key figures in India's golden era of hockey dominance. The men's team have not won an Olympic title since their eighth gold at the 1980 Moscow Games.
Singh had been in hospital after suffering three heart attacks in recent weeks.
New Straits Times
Stats Speak: VIBGYOR of Balbir Singh Senior
By B.G.Joshi (Sehore-Bhopal, India)
Born: Dec 31, 1924 (in Olympic record book Oct 10, 1924 died: May 25, 2020) father- Sardar Dalip Singh (village Haripur Khalsa, District Jalandhar), mother-Karam Kaur, daughter- Sushbir Bhomia, Grandson- Kabir Bhomia.
*Following 7 records of Balbir Singh Senior are unique in Olympics Hockey -
|
Category |
Record |
|
Most Goals in the final match |
5 goals in Helsinki Olympics vs. Netherlands on July 24, 1952 in 6-1 Indian triumph |
|
Hat trick in succession |
3 goals in SF vs. Britain and 5 goals in Final vs. Netherlands in 1952 Helsinki Olympics |
|
Double Hat trick in a match |
6 goals in London Olympics vs. Argentina on Aug 4,1948 in 9-1 Indian triumph |
|
Top Scorer in Olympics |
9 goals in 1952 Helsinki Olympics in 3 matches |
|
Individual Gold Medals |
3 in successive Olympics-London(1948),Helsinki(1952) and Melbourne(1956) |
|
Biggest goal difference in Olympic Hockey |
India have 38 goals for and goals against 0 in 1956 Olympics under Balbir’s Captaincy |
|
Two in one |
Twice Flag bearer of Indian Contingent(1952 and 1956 Olympics) and captain of victorious Indian Hockey team in 1956 |
|
*Balbir Singh Dosanjh(popularly known as Balbir Senior)- Playing Records |
||
|
Year |
Caps |
Goals |
|
Overseas Tour in the year 1954 |
16 |
83 |
|
Overseas Tour in the year 1955 |
37 |
141 |
|
Played in 3 Olympics:1948,1952,1956 |
8 |
22 |
|
Total |
61 |
246 |
*Manager of victorious Indian team in Kuala Lumpur World Cup (1975)
*Balbir Singh has chosen in 16 as Iconic Olympians from all participants and all disciplines since inception of Olympics (1896) during London (2012) Olympics.
Balbir is the only hockey player, only Asian male and only Indian who was honoured in this manner.
*Awards- Padma Shri (1957), Major Dhyan Chand Life Time Achievement Award by Hockey India in 2015.
Fieldhockey.com
Balbir Singh Sr: His hockey stick was a magician’s wand
Hockey was hugely popular in India when Balbir Singh Sr was winning the hearts of his countrymen. He played fair and there was an indefatigable spirit that marked his game.
Vijay Lokapally
Balbir Singh (Sr.) is triple Olympic gold medallist (1948, '52 & '56). - R. V. MOORTHY
The hands that once held the hockey stick firmly, guiding the ball, caressing or slamming it, leaving the opponents chasing his shadow, trembled to hold a pen as he bravely tried to scribble his name. Giving an autograph seemed such an arduous task for Balbir Singh Sr, who could once produce a goal from nowhere. His frail figure was proof of the world having whizzed by, time leaving its mark on this wonderful athlete, who dazzled on the hockey field like none other, with the glorious exception of Dhyan Chand.
Having watched neither in action, one could only wistfully visualise the treat they must have dished out to their fans. We could feast only on stories recounted by old timers. Polite to a fault, Balbir Sr sported an infectious smile. His warm hug created such positive vibes about a man who spent his life helping fellow sportsmen, his upright character a testimony to the values that underlined his commitment to his team and nation.
Balbir also respected cricketers. And cricketers respected the hockey star in return. Vijay Hazare had earned fame on the tour to Australia in 1947-48 with a century in each innings of the Adelaide Test against Don Bradman’s team. Balbir Sr would mention Hazare in our conversations, but not a word of his own dazzling role in India winning the 1948 Olympic gold in London. His humility restrained him from making pompous references to his hockey feats.
He does write about the harsh treatment meted out to him at the London Olympics. He was twice dropped from the playing XI despite scoring six goals against Argentina, including a hat-trick, in his debut match of the Olympics. The final against host Great Britain was a thriller. Kishan Lal and K. D. Singh Babu played barefoot after it rained. And India won 4-0 after Balbir Sr scored the first two goals. The team was accorded a red-carpet welcome in Bombay.
Balbir Singh (right) pictured with Dhyan Chand. - The Hindu Photo Library
“Hockey was the only sport that gave the country something of a ray of golden hope, something to shout about,” wrote Balbir Sr.
The team was feted by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Balbir Sr would often recall those memorable days of hockey being the “darling sport” of the nation. It is said that Balbir Sr and ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh never required an appointment to meet the Prime Minister. “It’s true. We could meet him at short notice. He loved hockey,” Balbir Sr told this writer once.
Hockey was hugely popular in India when Balbir Sr was winning the hearts of his countrymen. He played fair and there was an indefatigable spirit that marked his game. He was said to be the fittest in the team and had a penchant to come up with some innovative streaks. Those who watched him in action would recall his impeccable timing in releasing the ball. His control of the ball was astonishing and it was rare that he would lose possession.
It was memorable meeting this legend at his home in Chandigarh last February. The place was a virtual hockey museum and one basically soaked in tales from India’s glorious domination of the game. He had clearly aged and his grandson Kabir was his means of communication. The National Flag in his room was a constant reminder of the momentous occasion in London when he took pride in ‘mastering’ the master, Great Britain. Independent India celebrated the hockey gold on English soil and he could relive every moment of that epic contest with minute details.
His speech was a mumble. You had to sit close because he had also become hard of hearing. There was a time when he would, in a flash, hear a call for the ball amidst the din of spectators and unerringly find his partner. “Those were such lovely days,” the sparkle in his eyes confirmed that he had dug deep into the past to recall those magical moments.
Three gold medals at the Olympics – 1948 (London), 1952 (Helsinki), 1956 (Melbourne) – brought him the status of greatness as a player. In 1975, he was the coach when India won the World Cup at Kuala Lumpur. It has not won it since.
100
Balbir Singh with his daughter Sushbir at her residence in Chandigarh. - Akhilesh Kumar
He was emotionally attached to the game. A hockey defeat would result in Balbir Sr giving his meal a miss. Family members often hid the news of India’s loss from him. The game was that much dear to him. He was an inseparable part of hockey discussions in any era. Towards the end of his journey, he yearned for the company of young players and scribes. He wanted to share his memories and regale them with inspirational stories. On one of the trips to his house, some of us expressed our desire to “feel” the gold medals. He pulled them out of his treasure box and let us hold them. “Do you feel the current?” His eyes were moist.
In his death, Balbir Sr took away with him a large chunk of hockey history, documented only in his mind. He was a kind soul, who served Indian hockey with distinction, and remained its most loyal supporter even in times of acute distress. He refused to believe that Indian hockey had plunged to irretrievable depths. He always advocated hope. “Hard work and dedication can take you places. We have hockey in our blood. All it needs is proper guidance,” he would repeat at various forums and seminars.
In The Golden Hat Trick, his captivating autobiography, he documents his attachment to the game. “Her love for me was eternal. Our love blossomed in London. We married in Helsinki and honeymooned in Melbourne. After a period of 11 long years (from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics), she returned to me as fresh, as gay, as charming as she ever was. This time she took me to Kuala Lumpur and we were again top of the world. I am waiting for her – my hockey fairy.”
Alas, his yearning for another date with the hockey fairy shall remain an unfulfilled dream.
Sportstar
Balbir Sr among the best players hockey has ever seen: Gurbux Singh
Gurbux Singh, 1964 Tokyo Olympics gold-medallist, spoke about his admiration for hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr who passes away on Monday.
Y.B. Sarangi
Balbir Singh Senior during his days playing for Punjab Police. - THE HINDU ARCHIVES
Former Indian hockey defender Gurbux Singh paid tribute to legendary forward Bablir Singh Senior who passed away on Monday due to illness.
“Balbir Singh (Sr.) was a wonderful scorer, one of the best India has ever produced and the world has ever seen. He was calm and quiet on the field, but was an opportunist,” said 1964 Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Gurbux Singh.
As a youngster, Gurbux had the privilege to see Balbir and play briefly against him. “The first time I saw him in Lucknow in 1952. I was a youngster and legends like Balbir, Dharam Singh, Uddham Singh and Trilochan Singh were in action.
“Then I got to play against him in a semifinal in 1955. I got to know him better in 1959 when he became the camp in-charge of the Indian team for the pre-Olympics,” Gurbux, who also bagged a bronze in 1968 Olympics and a gold in the 1966 Asian Games, told Sportstar on Monday.
Remembering three-time Olympic gold medallist Balbir’s game, Gurbux said, “He was not much of a dribbler or schemer, but would convert half-a-chance. His hit was very powerful. He told us that at home he used to break one ball (leather balls were used those days) every day by hitting it against the wall. After all, practice makes a man perfect.
“Balbir is one of the legends from an era when players were self-made. There was no coaching. The maximum you got was some mentoring.”
Eighty-four-year-old Gurbux said legendary players like Balbir used attract spectators to the stands. “Very sad with the passing of Balbir. We grew up looking up to him. After him, Keshav Dutt, who is not well, is the last one left from the 1948 batch. Players like Balbir, Keshav and K.D. Singh Babu inspired us. It was wonderful to see them in action,” said Gurbux.
Sportstar
Balbir Singh Sr was one of the finest to have played the sport - Zafar Iqbal
Former Indian hockey team captain Zafar Iqbal pays his tributes to the iconic Balbir Singh Sr, who passed away on Monday.
Zafar Iqbal
Three-time Olympic gold medallist Balbir Singh Sr was regarded as the greatest-ever centre forward to have graced the hockey field. - AKHILESH KUMAR
Balbir ji had a happy-go-lucky approach, always smiling. He was one of the finest human beings to have played the sport. One of the main pillars of Indian hockey, we all looked up to him as a player, coach, manager and a friend. Given the 1975 World Cup win under his helm, and the three Olympic golds he won as a player, I would call him Dhyan Chand of independent India.
His demeanour was an example in itself: always mentally calm and never losing his cool on or off the field. His coaching ethos revolved around team unity. He always said anything is possible if we played as a unit.
Balbir ji was also very diet conscious and paid a lot of attention to his fitness. He never asked us directly to keep a tab on what we ate...perhaps he was hoping we would watch and learn! (smiles).
One of his biggest compliments, one that I'll cherish forever, came in 1982 when he watched me score a goal against a formidable opponent and said, 'Your hitting reminds me of my playing days.' Can you imagine a triple Olympic gold medallist and one of the pioneers of the sport saying that to me? It was a priceless moment.
As told to Ayan Acharya
Sportstar
Balbir Singh Sr's stellar career - In Pictures
A look back at the outstanding career of three-time Olympic gold champion Balbir Singh Sr, a spectacular athlete who dazzled on the hockey field.
'Role models such as him come very rarely', Twitter pays homage to hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr on his demise
India's three-time Olympic gold medal-winning hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr passed away at 95, on Monday. Balbir Sr, one of the country's most accomplished hockey players, had been facing multiple health issues for over two weeks.
He was in a semi-comatose state since 18 May and had developed a blood clot in his brain after being first admitted to the hospital for bronchial pneumonia with high fever.
He was hospitalised after experiencing high fever and suffered three cardiac arrests during the course of his treatment.
Meanwhile, some prominent sports personalities took to Twitter to pay homage to the hockey legend. Here are a few reactions:
#BalBirSingh ji- A True Giant and a half in his field. Hockey legend out and out. Condolences ? #BalbirSinghSenior pic.twitter.com/4xClWGmhkT
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) May 25, 2020
Rest in Peace to one of the GREATEST and LEGENDARY player of all time Padam Shri Balbir Singh Senior ji - you will lives forever in our heart ?? #tripleolympicsgoldmedalist pic.twitter.com/YwgWhsVHDL — Manpreet Singh (@manpreetpawar07) May 25, 2020
Saddened to hear of the demise of one of India's most celebrated Olympians, Balbir Singh Sr. Athletes and role models such as him come very rarely, and it was an honour to know him, and I hope his example will continue to inspire athletes from around the world!
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) May 25, 2020
My deepest condolences to the family of the legend Balbir Singh ji. I have come close to meeting him so many times but always missed it. I was a big fan and was hoping to get a picture with him one day. Sadly he now resides in our memories only. Till we meet again. @BalbirSenior — Heena SIDHU (@HeenaSidhu10) May 25, 2020
Sad to hear demise of legendary hockey player Sh. Balbir Singh Senior. He was 3 times Olympic Gold Medalist. As a sport person i will always be proud of him. Om Shanti! #BalbirSinghSenior #balbirsingh pic.twitter.com/vEnunGoOVO
— Divya Singh (दिव्या सिंह )?? (@Divyasingh04) May 25, 2020
Saddened to learn about the demise of legendary hockey player and 3 time Olympic gold medalist Balbir Singh Sr ji. My Deepest condolences to his loved ones and his family. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/1R2eB6OJgg — Varun Puri (@varunpuri1984) May 25, 2020
I was rather shocked to hear the news of legendary Olympian Balbir Singh Sr untimely demise. My heart felt condolences to his family. I pray that the almighty gives his family the strength to withstand this tragic moment. May his soul rest in peace. #RIP pic.twitter.com/ynp8LXG1UV
— sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) May 25, 2020
Very sad to hear of the demise of legendary Olympian Balbir Singh Sr, 3 time Olympic gold medallist. This was from my last meeting with him at Delhi. He was always smiling, so mentally alert and such a thorough gentleman. What a fine role model ?? pic.twitter.com/Sn1wlgdEss — Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) May 25, 2020
Manpreet Singh: The man tasked with regaining Indian hockey’s midas touch
The Mithipur native revealed that the senior players have helped him alleviate the pressure, and allowed him to enjoy captaincy.
By Rahul Venkat
Going into the Asia Cup in 2017, the Indian hockey team faced a few challenges.
The former giants had not won the tournament in 10 years and to make matters worse, found themselves without the services of skipper PR Sreejesh, who was recuperating from surgery.
With veteran midfield general Sardar Singh entering the twilight of his playing career, the period called for a new, and youthful, infusion of energy into the captain’s role and Manpreet Singh was the candidate best suited for the job, having skippered through his junior career.
The 27-year-old began his captaincy on the best possible note, leading the Indian hockey team to Asia Cup gold.
The expectations may weigh some down but Manpreet Singh has not felt the pressure. “It has been an enjoyable experience for me so far,” he stated in an exclusive chat with the Olympic Channel.
“We had a great start with the Asia Cup, where I had Sardar to help me discuss strategies and team plans. That is how it has been largely, the seniors like Sreejesh, Rupinder (Pal Singh), SV Sunil and Ramandeep (Singh) have not let me feel the pressure. They are always there for me.”
The support system in the Indian hockey team allows him to play with a lot of freedom, which allows him to cover almost every inch of the astroturf, and Manpreet Singh is someone who likes to lead by example.
He is often the first rusher while defending a penalty corner, a job that needs immense concentration to anticipate a shot, and bravery, to block it.
The skipper is quite modest of his abilities though. “No first rusher wants to let the ball past him and I feel Amit Rohidas is better than me,” believed the Mithapur native.
“We usually plan for him to guard the left side of the goal, it allows the keeper to focus on covering the right. It makes the job easier for us.”
The Ronaldo effect
Another thing that makes it easier for Manpreet Singh is learning from football great Cristiano Ronaldo.
For most, it’s the Portuguese striker’s skills, the insane annual goal numbers and gravity-defying headers are what define him. For a keen observer like Manpreet Singh, his off-the-ball activities catch the eye.
“I like the fact that he never gives up. Even if his team is losing, you can see him constantly trying to egg the team on and inspire them to victory,” the Indian hockey skipper said.
Manpreet Singh, who wears the number seven jersey like the Portuguese footballer and another one of his favourite players, David Beckham, wants to be the one to lift the team on the field.
“I am the sort of person who likes to motivate youngsters when they are going through poor form or for some reason, are not able to do as well,” he stated. “Ultimately, hockey is a team game and everyone’s contribution is equally important.”
Preparing for Tokyo
It’s why the Indian hockey team had built great momentum in the new year, recording wins over the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia in their debut FIH Pro League campaign. And their plan to peak in time for the Tokyo Olympics was motoring along well.
They were undergoing a training camp at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru when the lockdown was announced in India due to COVID-19 and news that the Tokyo Olympics had been pushed by a year came a few days later.
The Indian hockey team are currently doing all they can to deal with the testing times. “We cannot venture out or do our normal routines, so the team does feel exhausted at times,” Manpreet Singh candidly noted.
However, they are still very much preparing for the biggest test. “There is a whole year to go and we choose to look at it as an opportunity to perfect ourselves. Extra-preparedness is always a good thing, especially for the Olympics,” he said.
“We are keenly reviewing videos of our opponents and discussing possible strategies,” he said.
“An entire nation is depending on us for a medal and we are doing everything possible to make it happen.”
The Olympic Channel
Contact training allowed for elite athletes when hockey is ready
By Richard Bright
Britain’s elite hockey players could be allowed to head straight into close contact tackling when they are permitted to start training again.
Elite sports housed at Bisham Abbey are yet to determine when they can return to action, with Great Britain Hockey announcing that its senior squads won’t be returning in the next few weeks.
The government has now published ‘stage two’ of its five-stage guidance which enables competitive and close-contact training – including team sports tackling – in a bid for athletes to get match fit before any top level competition resumes.
Guidance stated: “Close contact training is required to replicate match formations and conditions, so that the sport-specific demands can be placed on the body, mind and senses.”
The guidance also said close contact training will only be allowed only when sports governing bodies and clubs say conditions are in place, following consultation with athletes, coaches and support staff.
Elie athletes will still have to social distance before and after training. Time spent closer than the permitted two metres in training should be kept to “a reasonable minimum”.
GB Hockey said last week: “We are monitoring the advice offered by the government and looking at a phased return to training for the senior international squads as soon as is appropriate.
“In addition, our other international activity including the Great Britain Elite Development Programme will not undertake any activity at present. We are in communication with athletes from this programme and updates in the coming weeks will provide more information.”
Stage three of the government’s plans are expected to centre around a return to professional sport next month.
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The Hockey Paper