Balbir Singh Kular

Who is Balbir Singh Kular?

Colonel Balbir Singh Kular is an Indian field hockey player. He is also known as Balbir Singh Kullar/Khullar, or simply as Balbir Singh.

Balbir Singh was born in the Sansarpur village of the Jalandhar district, and later settled in the Jalandhar city. As part of the Indian Universities Hockey Team, he played in Afghanistan in 1962. In 1964, he represented the Punjab state in the National Hockey Championship at Delhi.

In 1965, Balbir Singh joined the Indian Army and later, rose to the rank of Colonel. As a member of the national hockey team, he toured Europe, Japan, Kenya and Uganda.

Balbir Singh was part of the India hockey teams that won the Asian Games Gold in 1966 and the Olympic Bronze in 1968. He scored three goals in the 1968 Olympics.

During 1965-1974, Balbir Singh represented the Services team in the National Hockey Championship of India. He was the captain of the Services team that won the Bombay Gold Cup in 1971.

Balbir Singh retired from active play in the 1970s due to knee problems. He coached the ASC hockey team during 1970-1980. He then coached the Central Zone team, the Indian men's hockey team and the women's hockey team. With him as the coach in 1982, the Indian men's team won Bronze at the Champions Trophy in Amsterdam, Silver at the Asian Games in Delhi and Silver at the 1982 Esanda World Hockey Championship in Melbourne. He also served as a selector for the Indian national hockey team from March 1987 to July 1987, and as its manager for during the Indo-Pan American Hockey Championship in 1995.