Balbir Singh, Sr.

Who is Balbir Singh, Sr.?

Balbir Singh is a retired field hockey player from India, who was a member of three Olympic gold medal winning teams, in London, Helsinki and Melbourne. His Olympic record for most goals scored by an individual in an Olympic men's hockey final remains unbeaten. Balbir Singh set this record when he scored 5 goals in India's 6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal game of the 1952 Olympic Games. Reputed as the best centre-forward in the history of the game, he is often called Balbir Singh Senior to distinguish him from other Indian hockey players named Balbir Singh.

Balbir 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 won the bronze medal.

During the London Olympics in 2012, Balbir Singh was honoured in the Olympic Museum exhibition, “The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games” held at the Royal Opera House. 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 chosen whose example "tells of human strength and endeavour, of passion, determination, hard work and achievement and demonstrates the values of the Olympic Movement".