Former India Hockey Player Balbir Singh Junior Dies At 88

Balbir Singh Junior, who was a member of the silver medal-winning 1958 Asian Video games Indian hockey crew, died at the age of 88, his daughter Mandeep Samra reported on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son. “My father passed away in sleep on Sunday early morning because of to heart failure,” his daughter reported. His son is settled in Canada and could not attend the final rites of his father because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Born on May 2, 1932, at Sansarpur in Jalandhar, also acknowledged as the nursery of Indian hockey, Balbir Singh Junior experienced performed along with legends like Balbir Singh Senior, Leslie Claudius, Prithipal Singh, Balkishan and Charles Stephen amongst other people. 

Singh took to hockey when he was six several years outdated. He researched at Lyallpur Khalsa College or university in Jalandhar and was initial picked to participate in for the Indian hockey crew in 1951 all through the tour of Afghanistan. 

He was aspect of the Punjab condition hockey crew and also captained Panjab College crew. 

Later on, he also performed for the Indian Railways crew that toured European international locations these types of as Spain, Switzerland and Italy. 

The crew also performed Check matches in Netherlands. In 1962, he joined the Military as an unexpected emergency commissioned officer. 

He performed for the Companies hockey crew in the countrywide tournaments at Delhi. Singh retired as a Significant in 1984 and later settled in Chandigarh. 

Article retirement he took keen curiosity in participating in golf. Hockey India condoled the dying of Balbir Singh Junior. 

“On behalf of Hockey India, I express my deepest condolences to Balbir Singh Junior’s family members. His contribution to Indian hockey will usually be remembered and the hockey fraternity mourns his demise,” Hello President Gyanendro Ningombam reported. 

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Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore, who is also Administrator Union Territory Chandigarh, expressed condolences at the passing of the hockey participant. 

Badnore reported that Balbir Singh Junior, who represented India in many worldwide championships, will be remembered for his exceptional contribution to the sport.