Balbir Singh

Balbir Singh

Balbir Singh Dosanjh (31 December 1923 – 25 May 2020) was a hockey player from India. He was a three-time Olympic gold champion having played a key role[6] in India's wins in London (1948), Helsinki (1952) (as Vice Captain), and Melbourne (1956) (as Captain) Olympics  He is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time , a modern-day Dhyan Chand , a legend  of the sport and is widely regarded as the sport's greatest ever centre-forward . His Olympic record for most goals scored by an individual in an Olympic men's hockey final remains unbeaten.  Singh set this record when he scored five goals in India's 6–1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal game of the 1952 Olympic Games. He was often called Balbir Singh Senior to distinguish him from other Indian hockey players named Balbir Singh.

Singh was the Manager and Chief Coach of the Indian team for the 1975 Men's Hockey World Cup, which India won, and the 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup, where India earned a bronze medal. During the London Olympics in 2012, Singh was honoured in the Olympic Museum exhibition, "The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games” held at the Royal Opera House.  The exhibition told the story of the Olympic Games from its creation in 776BC through to the London 2012 Olympic Games. He was one of the 16 iconic Olympians chosen  whose example "tells of human strength and endeavour, of passion, determination, hard work and achievement and demonstrates the values of the Olympic Movement". 

Singh died at the age of 96 in Chandigarh on 25 May 2020.