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Born in Punjab to Karam Kaur and Dalip Singh Dusanjh, a freedom fighter, Balbir Singh spent his early years without his father. Because his father often traveled and went to jail many times. Hockey fascinated Balbir Singh from an early age. He started playing this game at the age of 5.
Started as a goalkeeper
At the age of 12, Balbir Singh Sr. knew what he wanted to do next in life when he watched the Indian hockey team win its third Olympic gold medal in 1936. He made his debut as a goalkeeper and then started playing in the back four. But he realized his potential for the first time when, as a striker, he got a special opportunity to play in a local tournament.
Apart from being a part of 3 Olympic winning teams, Balbir Singh Sr also won a silver medal with the Indian hockey team in the 1958 Asian Games played in Tokyo, Japan. Let us tell you that he was the first Indian sportsperson to be awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award in 1957.
Balbir Singh Sr. also worked in the Punjab Sports Department for many years and later served as the coach of the Indian hockey team. As a coach, he also helped India win its only Hockey World Cup title till date (in 1975). The legend is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in hockey history.
Balbir Singh scored five goals in the final of the Helsinki Olympics
Balbir scored 5 goals against the Netherlands in the final of the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. His record for most goals in an Olympic final still stands today. India won this match 6-1.
Balbir was a three-time Olympic gold medalist
He was part of the Indian team that won gold medals at the London (1948), Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956) Olympics. He was named by the International Olympic Committee as one of the 16 greatest athletes in modern Olympic history. He was the only player of the country to be included in this list.
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