Hockey Legend Balbir Singh passed away at the age of 96 in Mohali on May 25, 2020. He was perhaps only second to Major Dhyanchand in hockey skills and was part of the three-time Olympic medal-winning Indian team in 1948, 1952, and 1956.

He had scored five goals in India’s 6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal match at the 1952 Helsinki Games, which still remains a Guinness World Record. He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1957 and was also the manager of India’s World Cup-winning team in 1975.

Indian cricketers pay tribute to late Indian Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr

Apart from Hockey, the legend also loved to watch cricket and had a chance encounter with Indian captain, MS Dhoni, in Mohali during the ICC T20 World Cup 2016. India was due to face Australia in a do or die game and Balbir Singh wanted to convey his wishes to the team.

Dhoni thanked him for taking out time to meet them and inquired about his health. The thespian cheekily commented, “Your victory contributes towards my good health.”  

“I came to wish the team to win their third world title and complete their own golden hat-trick,” Singh had told PTI.

India defeated Australia in a close encounter thanks to a partnership between MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

(PTI inputs)