Chandigarh: Goal machine and Indian hockey legend Padma Shri Balbir Singh Sr. bid goodbye to the world on Monday. He breathed his last breath around 6.17 in the morning. His body was brought to his residence at Chandigarh Sector 36 from Fortis Hospital at around 3 pm.
Punjab Police personnel and officers were present during this period. His body will be taken from his residence to the crematorium in Sector 25 where he will be given farewell with state honours around 5 pm.
Balbir Singh Sr. lived with his daughter and grandson in his residence in Chandigarh. Earlier, Balbir Singh Sr. was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali after facing difficulty in breathing. After the legend’s death, his grandson Kabir went to collect his body after which his body was brought to home with full respect in the presence of the police.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist was in a semi-comatose state since May 18 and had developed a blood clot in his brain after being first admitted to the hospital for bronchial pneumonia with high fever.
Balbir was part of the Indian teams that won gold at the 1948 London Olympics, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956. His record for most individual goals scored in an Olympic men's hockey final remains unbeaten. Balbir had set this record when he scored five goals in India's 6-1 win over Netherlands in the gold medal match of the 1952 Games.
He was the head coach of the Indian team for the 1975 men's World Cup, which India won and the 1971 men's World Cup, where India earned a bronze medal. He was also conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri in 1957.
