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	{{Olympic medalists for India}}		{{Olympic medalists for India}}
			{{India FH Squad 1948 Summer Olympics}}
			{{India FH Squad 1952 Summer Olympics}}
			{{India FH Squad 1956 Summer Olympics}}
	{{India FH Squad 1975 World Cup}}		{{India FH Squad 1975 World Cup}}
	{{Authority control}}		{{Authority control}}

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{{Short description|Indian field hockey player}}
{{About|the hockey player born in 1923|other hockey players with the same name|Balbir Singh (disambiguation){{!}}Balbir Singh}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| headercolor =
| name = Balbir Singh Sr.
| image = File:1956- Melbourne Olympic Victory Ceremony.jpg
| caption = Melbourne Olympic Victory Ceremony
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Balbir Singh Dosanjh
| nickname =
| nationality = Indian
| residence = [[Burnaby]], Canada [[Chandigarh]], India
| birth_date = {{birth date |df=yes|1923|12|31}}<ref name=HockeyIndiaCaptains>{{Cite web | title=Olympic Captains of India | url=http://hockeyindia.org/hall-of-fame-olympic-captains-of-india | work=Hockey India | access-date=10 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713222409/http://hockeyindia.org/hall-of-fame-olympic-captains-of-india | archive-date=13 July 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Haripur Khalsa]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2020|5|25|1923|12|31}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/hockey-legend-balbir-singh-sr-dies-at-the-age-of-95/articleshow/75962278.cms | title=Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr dies at the age of 95 | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=25 May 2020 | access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>
| death_place = [[Mohali]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1264753030689218560/photo/1 | title=Hockey Olympian Balbir Singh Sr passes away at a hospital in Mohali in Punjab | publisher=[[Asian News International|ANI]] on [[Twitter]] | date=25 May 2020 | access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>
| alma_mater = Dev Samaj High School, Moga DM College, Moga Sikh National College, Lahore [[Khalsa College, Amritsar]]
| employer =
| yearsactive =
| website =
| country = India
| sport = [[Field hockey]]
| event = Field Hockey Men's team
| team = [[India men's national field hockey team|India]] (International) Punjab State (National) Punjab Police (National) Punjab University (National)
| retired =
| nationalyears1 = 1979–1989
| nationalteam1 = [[India men's national field hockey team|India]]
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[field hockey]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Summer Olympic Games|Summer Olympics]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1948 Summer Olympics|1948 London]]|[[Field hockey at the 1948 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Helsinki]]|[[Field hockey at the 1952 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne]]|[[Field hockey at the 1956 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1958 Asian Games|1958 Tokyo]]|[[Field hockey at the Asian Games|Team]]}}
| show-medals = yes
}}

'''Balbir Singh Dosanjh''' (31 December 1923 – 25 May 2020)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/hockey-news/hockey-icon-balbir-singh-sr-dies-olympic-gold-chandigarh.html | title=Triple Olympic Gold-winning Hockey Icon Balbir Singh Sr Passes Away | publisher=Republic World | date=25 May 2020 | access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref><ref>[https://acsweb.ucsd.edu/~ptchir/ Oldest Living Olympians]</ref> was an Indian [[field hockey|hockey]] player.<ref name=HockeyIndiaCaptains/> He was a three-time [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold medallist, having played a key role<ref name=OlympicDosanjh>{{Cite web| title=Singh on song for India | url=https://www.olympic.org/balbir-singh-dosanjh | work=IOC|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref> in India's wins in [[1948 Summer Olympics|London (1948)]], [[1952 Summer Olympics|Helsinki (1952)]] (as vice captain), and [[1956 Summer Olympics|Melbourne (1956)]] (as captain) Olympics.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120424/sports.htm#4 Balbir Singh Senior stakes claim for Bharat Ratna]. The Tribune, 24 April 2012.</ref> He is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time,<ref name=Macleans>{{Cite news| title=The greatest hockey player ever| url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/books/the-worlds-most-underappreciated-hockey-legend/ | work=Maclean's Magazine | location=Toronto | date=6 March 2016 | access-date=5 July 2017 | first=Charlie | last=Gillis}}</ref> a modern-day [[Dhyan Chand]],<ref name=Olympic2008>{{Cite news| title=Champions of the stick and ball| url=https://www.olympic.org/news/champions-of-the-stick-and-ball | work=IOC News|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref><ref name=TheHinduClassAct>{{Cite news| title=Balbir (Sr.) — a class act | url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/balbir-sr-a-class-act/article3635470.ece | work=The Hindu | date=14 July 2012 | access-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref> a legend<ref name=Olympic1948>{{Cite news| title=Legendary hockey star Balbir Singh takes you back... to 1948! | url=https://www.olympic.org/news/legendary-hockey-star-balbir-singh-takes-you-back-to-1948 | work=IOC News |date=9 May 2014| access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref><ref name=TheHindu1948>{{Cite news| title=1948 Olympics: Record fourth gold medal for India | url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/1948-olympics-record-fourth-gold-medal-for-india/article3620679.ece | work=The Hindu | date=9 July 2012 | access-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref><ref name=IELegend>{{Cite news| title=Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr meets MS Dhoni & co. | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/hockey-legend-balbir-singh-sr-meets-ms-dhoni-co/ | work=The Indian Express | date=26 March 2016 | access-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref><ref name=FPLegend>{{Cite news| title=Before Akshay Kumar's Gold, a look at his muse: Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr | url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/before-akshay-kumars-gold-a-look-at-his-muse-hockey-legend-balbir-singh-sr-3089080.html | work=FirstPost | date=6 Nov 2016 | access-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref><ref name=TOILegend>{{Cite news| title=Balbir Singh Sr: Forgotten legend of India's Olympic glory | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indiario/hockey/Balbir-Singh-Sr-Forgotten-legend-of-Indias-Olympic-glory/articleshow/53474143.cms | work=The Times Of India | date=31 July 2016 | access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name=ZeeLifetimeAward>{{Cite news| title=Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr. honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award | url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/hockey/hockey-legend-balbir-singh-sr-honoured-with-lifetime-achievement-award_1569348.html | work=Zee News | date=28 March 2015 | access-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref><ref name=HTLegend>{{Cite news| title=Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr honoured in Canada | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/sikh-hockey-legend-balbir-singh-honoured-in-canada/story-QO0XP9Tvi7KvtfiJkcnzyO.html | work=Hindustan Times | date=4 March 2016 | access-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref> of the sport, and is widely regarded as the sport's greatest ever centre-forward.<ref name=TheHinduClassAct/><ref name=Olympic1948/> His Olympic record for most goals scored by an individual in an Olympic men's hockey final remains unbeaten.<ref>[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/9000/most-goals-scored-by-an-individual-in-an-olympic-hockey-final-(male) Most Goals scored by an Individual in an Olympic Hockey Final (Male)]. Guinness World Records</ref> 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 (disambiguation)|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 [[2012 Summer Olympics|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.<ref>[http://www.bplondon2012.com/london_2012_festival/the_olympic_journey/press/11_july_2012/ The personal stories of 16 great Olympians]</ref> 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 recognized<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005600/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-10/edit-page/33119989_1_indian-hockey-london-olympics-hockey-debacle One of the 16 iconic Olympians – Times of India]</ref> as an example "of human strength and endeavour, of passion, determination, hard work and achievement and demonstrates the values of the Olympic Movement".<ref>[http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7075812 The Olympic Journey: The Story of The Games]</ref>

Singh died at the age of 96 in [[Mohali]] on 25 May 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://odishatv.in/sports/hockey-legend-balbir-singh-sr-passes-away-453462|title=Hockey Legend Balbir Singh Sr Passes Away|publisher=OdishaTv|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sen |first1=Rohan |title=Balbir Singh Sr December 31, 1923 to May 25, 2020: In honour of a legend who redefined Indian hockey |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/hockey/story/indian-hockey-legend-balbir-singh-sr-obituary-facts-achievements-1681562-2020-05-25 |publisher=[[India Today]] |date=May 25, 2020}}</ref>

==Early years==
Singh was born in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] to Karam Kaur and Dalip Singh Dosanjh. His father was a freedom fighter who was absent most of Singh’s early years due to being frequently jailed. At the age of twelve, Singh saw a [[newsreel]] on India's 1936 Olympic hockey triumph, which sparked his interest in hockey. He was later spotted as a promising hockey player by the coach of Khalsa College hockey team. While at Khalsa, Singh led the team to three consecutive championships as captain and was soon playing for the [[Panjab University|Punjab state team]]. He helped the Punjab state team win two consecutive national titles in 1946 and 1947.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BIOGRAPHY Balbir Singh Dosanjh|publisher=Olympics.com|url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/balbir-singh-dosanjh}}</ref>

==1948–1956==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2020}}

===London Olympics (1948)===
Singh's first appearance at the [[1948 Summer Olympics|1948 London Olympics]] was in the match against [[Argentina men's national field hockey team|Argentina]], India's second match. After that he played in Final against Great Britain. Singh scored the first two goals and India won by 4–0.

===Helsinki Olympics (1952)===
Singh was vice-captain of 1952 Olympic team, with [[K. D. Singh]] as the Captain. Balbir was India's flag bearer in the opening ceremony. He scored a hat trick against Britain in semi-final, which India won 3–1. He scored five goals in India's 6–1 win against the Netherlands setting a new Olympic record for most goals scored by an individual in an Olympic final in men's field hockey. The previous holder of this record was England's [[Reggie Pridmore]] with his four goals in England's 8–1 victory over Ireland in the 1908 Olympic final. Singh scored nine of the India's total 13 goals at the Helsinki Olympics, 69.23% of the team's goals.

===Melbourne Olympics (1956)===
Singh, captain of the [[Field hockey at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads#India|1956 Olympic team]], scored five goals in the opening match against [[Afghanistan]], but was then injured. [[Randhir Singh Gentle]] captained the rest of the group matches. Singh had to skip the group matches, but played in the semi-final and the final. India won the final match against Pakistan with a result of 1–0. In total of 8 Olympic matches he played he scored 22 goals for his nation

==Post-1956==
In 1957, Singh became the first recipient of the [[Padma Shri]] award in the sports category.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Shri Award
|url=https://www.hockeyindia.org/hall-of-fame/padma-shri-award|website=Hockey India}}</ref> He was also a member of the Indian hockey team that won the silver medal at the [[1958 Asian Games]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hockey: Balbir Singh Junior, part of India’s 1958 Asian Games silver medal-winning team, dies at 88|url=https://scroll.in/field/992185/hockey-balbir-singh-junior-part-of-indias-1958-asian-games-silver-medal-winning-team-dies-at-88|date=April 13, 2021}}</ref> He coached the 1971 Indian hockey team for World Cup hockey, where India earned the bronze medal. In 1975, he was the manager of the victorious Indian World Cup hockey team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Balbir Singh Senior, a man who never let India down|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/balbir-singh-senior-a-man-who-never-let-india-down/story-7weYOscWwSWgXhElf3z4iM.html|date=May 26, 2020|author=Saurabh Duggal}}</ref> He wrote two books: his autobiography ''The Golden Hat Trick'' (1977) and ''The Golden Yardstick: In Quest of Hockey Excellence'' (2008).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Factbox: Balbir Singh Sr - Hockey legend, three Olympic gold medals, author|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/factbox-balbir-singh-sr-hockey-legend-three-olympic-gold-medals-author/articleshow/75962660.cms|date=May 25, 2020}}</ref>

==Awards and achievements==
In 1957, Singh was the first sports personality to be honoured with the Padma Shri award.<ref>[http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf Padma Awards Directory (1954–2007)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410024701/http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf |date=10 April 2009 }}, Ministry of Home Affairs.</ref> He and [[Gurdev Singh (field hockey)|Gurdev Singh]] were featured on a stamp issued in 1958 by [[Dominican Republic]] to commemorate the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

He lit the Sacred Flame at the Asian Games 1982 held at New Delhi. That same year, he was adjudged to be the ''Indian Sportsperson of the Century'' in a national poll conducted by the Patriot newspaper.

In 2006, he was named the ''Best Sikh Hockey Player''. Describing himself as a secular nationalist, he stated that he was not convinced about the idea of having a religion-based list of players, but accepted the award since he believed it might be good for the promotion of Indian hockey.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060529214810/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/27/stories/2006042704172100.htm Balbir (Sr.) gets the top accolade]</ref> In 2015, he was conferred with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award of Hockey India.

On May 25th, 2021, the [[Mohali International Hockey Stadium]] was renamed the ''Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium'' in honor of his death anniversary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/field-hockey/story/_/id/31508484/mohali-hockey-stadium-renamed-balbir-singh-sr-mark-death-anniversary|title=Mohali hockey stadium renamed after Balbir Singh Sr to mark his death anniversary|date=25 May 2021|publisher=[[ESPN]]|accessdate=26 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sports/mohali-international-hockey-stadium-renamed-after-balbir-singh-senior-258606#:~:text=After%20a%20one%2Dyear%20wait,Singh%20Senior%20International%20Hockey%20Stadium.|title=Mohali international hockey stadium renamed after Balbir Singh Senior|date=26 May 2021|publisher=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|India Tribune]]|accessdate=26 May 2021}}</ref>

==Erroneous reports==
Although the record for most goals by an individual in an Olympic final belongs to Singh there have been many erroneous media reports over the years claiming that Dhyan Chand scored six goals in India's 8–1 victory over Germany in the 1936 Olympic final. In his autobiography titled "Goal!", however, published in 1952 by Sport & Pastime, Chennai, Chand wrote:

''“When Germany was four goals down, a ball hit Allen's pad and rebounded. The Germans took full advantage of this and made a rush, netting the ball before we could stop it. That was the only goal Germany would score in the match against our eight, and incidentally the only goal scored against India in the entire Olympic tournament. India's goal-getters were Roop Singh, Tapsell and Jaffar with one each, Dara two and myself three.

Additionally, the International Hockey Federation records also attribute only three of the eight goals to Chand in the Berlin Olympic final.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130103110417/http://www.fih.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/theasp.asp?pageid=119&PersonID=253144&RefID=444503 The International Hockey Federation website]</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Indian hockey captains in Olympics]]
*[[Field hockey in India]]
*[[India men's national field hockey team|India national field hockey team]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Blennerhassett, Patrick. '' A Forgotten Legend: Balbir Singh Sr., Triple Olympic Gold & Modi's New India'' (2016) [http://www.macleans.ca/culture/books/the-worlds-most-underappreciated-hockey-legend/ online review]

==External links==
* [http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/granthalaya/hattrick Autobiography: The Golden Hat Trick] (1977)
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Sports reference}}

{{Olympic medalists for India}}
{{India FH Squad 1975 World Cup}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Balbir Sr}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players of India]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Indian male field hockey players]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1958 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1958 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Indian field hockey coaches]]
[[Category:Deaths from bronchopneumonia]]

Balbir Singh Sr. - Revision history

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