K. D. Singh (hockey)

K. D. Singh (hockey) Biography

K. D. Singh or Kunwar Digvijay Singh, fondly called Babu was a celebrated and iconic hockey player from India. He was a member of Indian Olympics team which won 1948 and 1952 hockey gold. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, who has served as the captain of Indian team as well. He served as the coach to Indian team that won two silver medals at the Asian Games in the 1970s. Apart from hockey, he was a cricketer with three centuries, including a double centuryd, in the Sheesh Mahal Tournament in Lucknow, a master shooter and hunter, and a competent golfer and tennis player.

Babu was a humble person in his profession, though his character has been depicted as an arrogant and selfish rich man in the movie, Gold released in 2018. Amit Sadh’s fictional character in this Bollywood film was inspired from him. Needless to say, he was one among the greatest Indian players all-time, the only Indian and the first Asian to receive Helms Trophy in 1952 by the American Helms Foundation. Indian government conferred Padma Shri on him in 1958. Two stadiums are named after him, in Lucknow and Barabanki,

Kunwar Digvijay Singh was born in Barabanki, United Provinces in the year 1922. He played hockey most of his time during his younger days in his hometown. A tournament played at Dewa Mela marked his entry to hockey. At a young age of 15 years he played for the LYA Club, Lucknow. He gained popularity in the local circle very soon. After partition, when a new team was formed to play 1948 Olympics, he became a part of it. He also played as Vice-Captain.  The Indian team won a gold medal on this occasion, the first gold after independence though the same team has played as British India and won three consecutive gold medals during 1928, 1932 and 1936. Following two world wars, Olympics was organized only in 1948 after 1936.

He is best known for his passing ability, and is considered by many to be the greatest dribbler comparable only to Dhyan Chand. As a team captain in the late 1940s, he scored 99 goals out of 236 netted by Indian team in 1949 alone. He was the captain of the Indian team, which won the Gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. He served as the coach for Indian hockey team for the 1972 Munich Olympics, and has served as a sports administrator of various organizations.

Published: November 29, 2018

Updated: November 29, 2018