Hercefrax: added info

2025-09-21T08:51:41Z

added info

>Citation bot: Alter: title. Add: work. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | Category:Pages which use embedded infobox templates with the title parameter | #UCB_Category 668/2715

2021-07-03T09:21:24Z

Alter: title. Add: work. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | Category:Pages which use embedded infobox templates with the title parameter | #UCB_Category 668/2715

New page

{{short description|Indian field hockey player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{multiple issues|
{{lead too short|date=August 2014}}
{{more footnotes|date=August 2014}}
}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Group Captain]]
| honorific_suffix =
| image = File:RaghbirSinghBhola.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Ragbhir Singh Bhola at the 1998 Asian Games
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|08|18|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/raghbir-singh-bhola |title=Raghbir SINGH BHOLA - Olympic Hockey | India |publisher=Olympic.org |date=1927-08-18 |accessdate=2019-01-27}}</ref>
| birth_place = Multan, Pakistan <ref name="thehindu1">{{cite web|author=Team Sportstar |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/former-india-hockey-player-raghbir-bhola-passes-away/article26060315.ece |title=Former India hockey player Raghbir Bhola passes away - Sportstar |publisher=Sportstar.thehindu.com |date=2019-01-22 |accessdate=2019-01-27}}</ref>
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2019|01|21|1927|08|18}}<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/former-india-hockey-player-raghbir-singh-bhola-passes-away/articleshow/67639558.cms |title=Former India hockey player Raghbir Singh Bhola passes away | Hockey News - Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2019-01-22 |accessdate=2019-01-27}}</ref>
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], India<ref name="indiatimes1"/>
| nickname =
| birth_name = Raghbir Singh Bhola
| allegiance = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| branch = {{Air force|India}}
| serviceyears = 1952-1978
| unit= AE(L)
| rank = [[File:British RAF OF-5.svg|15px]] [[Group Captain]]
| module = {{Infobox sportsperson
| embed = yes
| sport = [[Field hockey]]
| position = [[Striker (field hockey)|Left Winger]]
| height = 6 ft
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | [[File:Field hockey pictogram.svg|center|40px]] Men's [[Field hockey|Field Hockey]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{IND}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Field hockey at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Field hockey at the Summer Olympics|field hockey]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne]]|[[Field hockey at the 1956 Summer Olympics|Team Competition]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Rome]]|[[Field hockey at the 1960 Summer Olympics|Team Competition]]}}
}}
}}

'''Raghbir Singh Bhola''' (18 August 1927 – 21 January 2019) was an [[Indian Air Force|Indian Airforce]] Officer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/4299 |title=Service Record for Group Captain Raghbir Singh Bhola 4299 AE(L) |publisher=[bharat-rakshak.com] |date= |accessdate=2019-01-27}}</ref> and international hockey player who represented India in the 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome Olympics, winning a gold and silver medal respectively for the country. He was also awarded the Arjuna Award<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arjuna Award|url=https://www.hockeyindia.org/hall-of-fame/arjuna-award|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Hockey India|language=en}}</ref> for his contributions to Indian Hockey in 2000.

== Early life and education ==
Bhola, was born in a middle-class family in [[Multan]] (now [[Pakistan]]); his ancestors belonged to [[Pind Dadan Khan]] and his grandparents moved to Multan around the end of the 18th Century. He went to the Government Model High School, in [[Khanewal]], [[Pakistan]]. Growing up in Khanewal, without electricity and only one communal water pump, his father used to wake-up the family early to collect water everyday and do other chores around the house. After graduating from high school, he moved to [[New Delhi]] for higher studies, where he studied [[Electrical Engineering]] from the Delhi College of Engineering, now known as [[Delhi Technological University|Delhi Technological University (DTU)]]. After completing his Electrical Engineering from DCE, he joined the [[Indian Air Force]] in February 1952. In 1962, Bhola was selected by the [[Indian Air Force]] to undergo a two-year post graduation course in Electrical Engineering at the [[School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing (Cranfield University)|College of Aeronautics, Carnfield University]], UK which he completed successfully.<ref>{{cite web|author=nimmi |url=http://www.indianmirror.com/games/hockey/former-players/Raghbir-Singh-Bhola.html |title=Former Player Raghbir Singh Bhola-Indianmirror |publisher=Indianmirror.com |date=1927-08-21 |accessdate=2019-01-27}}</ref>

== Domestic hockey career ==
Government Model High School, in Khanewal, was known for its sporting facilities and Bhola thus developed an interest in sports. The standards were high, however,a and he got a chance to play only when the senior players did not turn up. His interest in sports was furthered by Dr. Khuda Baksh Awan, who encouraged him to play with his children. Bhola was a part of the Government Model High School Field Hockey team that won the Interschool XI Championship. When he moved to New Delhi, for higher studies, he represented D.A.V High School, [[Paharganj]]. He also played hockey for the Brothers Club at the intercollegiate level. While undergoing training at the [[Air Force Technical College, Bangalore|Air Force Technical College, Banglore]] he was inducted into the Services Hockey team to play in the National Hockey Championship in March 1953.<ref name="thehindu1"/> The services team won the National Hockey Championship for the first time, this was the beginning of Field Hockey career at the National Level. From 1954 to 1960 Bhola captained the Indian Airforce Hockey and Services Hockey team, except in 1956, and won the Inter Services Hockey Championship thrice and the National Hockey Championship twice.

== Participation in the Olympics ==
===1956 Melbourne Olympics===
Bhola was part of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics Indian Field Hockey squad. The team was captained by Balbir Singh and defeated Afghanistan 14 goals to 0, the United States 16-0 and Singapore 6-0 in the group stage and Germany 1-0 in the semifinals. India defeated Pakistan in the final 1-0, and brought home the gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/1956-olympics-india-pips-pakistan-to-win-gold/article3627897.ece |title=1956 Olympics: India pips Pakistan to win gold |work=The Hindu |date= |accessdate=2019-01-27}}</ref>

===1960 Rome Olympics===
Bhola was the only player to be selected from the Services Selection Board (SSB) for the Indian Field Hockey National Team to participate in a goodwill tour of Singapore and Malaysia in February 1954. In 1959, he was again selected to play on a goodwill tour of Egypt, Italy, Spain and Germany, in preparation for the 1960 Rome Olympics. For the 1960 Rome Olympics, the team was captained by Anglo-Indian [[Leslie Claudius]]. Bhola scored a total of 6 goals in the tournament: three goals against Denmark, one against Holland, one against New Zealand and the only goal (scored in extra time) against Australia in the quarterfinals. Bhola's extra-time penalty corner goal against Australia carried India into the semifinal where they beat Great Britain (1-0). India and Pakistan reached the finals again. Pakistan scored a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game after which India made several attempts to even the score, but were unsuccessful due to good saves by the Pakistan goalie. In the last 4 minutes of the game, Bhola got the ball, dodged right-half, right-front back, entered the shooting circle and took a left hand stroke at the goal, missing the mark by six inches. India lost to Pakistan and got a silver medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/1960-olympics-pakistan-ends-indias-dominance/article3631570.ece |title=1960 Olympics: Pakistan ends India's dominance |work=The Hindu |date= |accessdate=2019-01-27}}</ref>

[[File:Raghbir Singh Bhola - pic1.jpg|thumb]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070222054534/http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SINGHRAG01 Raghbir Singh Bhola's profile at databaseOlympics]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/1960-olympics-pakistan-ends-indias-dominance/article3631570.ece 1960 Olympics, Pakistan ends India's Dominance]
*[http://www.sportskeeda.com/hockey/rio-olympics-2016-list-hat-tricks-scored-indian-men-hockey-players-games Olympics, Hat-trick goal scorers for India]
*[http://www.cityspidey.com/spideypick_detail.php?id=1236&sef=rs-bhola-a-hockey-legend-in-janakpuri R.S.Bhola, A Legend]
*[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/persistent-failures-in-international-competitions-affected-morale-of-our-players/1/294193.html India Performance Article]
*[http://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/1960-olympics-pakistan-ends-indias-dominance/article3631570.ece 1960 Olympics, India Performance]
*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/Olympian-suggests-success-mantras-for-Indian-hockey-team/articleshow/5624336.cms Olympian suggests success mantras for Indian hockey team]
* [http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/granthalaya/hattrick/1956/page12.htm, The Golden Team]
*[http://www.olympic.ind.in/arjun.html, Arjuna Awards, IOA Website]
*[http://hockeyindia.org/hall-of-fame-arjuna-award-2, Arjuna Awards, Hockey India Website]
*[http://www.indiansportsnews.com/hockey-news/41068-national-game-has-lost-its-charm-over-the-years-says-1956-1960-olympic-hero-raghbir-singh-bhola, Indian Sports News - Modern Indian Hockey]
{{Olympic medalists for India}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhola, Raghbir Singh}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Multan]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1960 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Indian male field hockey players]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Delhi]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players of India]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Delhi Technological University alumni]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]

Raghbir Singh Bhola - Revision history

Hercefrax: added info

>Citation bot: Alter: title. Add: work. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | Category:Pages which use embedded infobox templates with the title parameter | #UCB_Category 668/2715