K. D. Singh
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Field Hockey | ||
Competitor for  India |
||
| Gold | 1948 London | Team Competition |
| Gold | 1952 Helsinki | Team Competition |
Kunwar Digvijay Singh (February 2, 1922 in Barabanki – March 27, 1978 in Lucknow), popularly known as "K.D.Singh 'Babu'", was an Indian field hockey player. He was born in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. Babu's artistry, craftsmanship and creative instincts saw him blossom into one of the finest inside-rights that India has produced. His ball and body control was instinctive, a sort of sixth sense.
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] As a player
He was first selected to All India Hockey Team in 1946-47 for the tour to Afghanistan. He played in the capacity of vice-captain in the 1948 Olympic Games. He was the captain of the gold medal-winning Indian team at 1952 Helsinki Olympics Games. The Indian team won a gold medal on both occasions. The 1948 outing was the first Olympic participation of India as an independent nation, which made the gold medal victory a very important achievement for the nascent nation even though it had won the Olympic gold in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
[edit] As a coach
He later served as the coach for Indian hockey team for the 1972 Munich Olympics. K.D. Singh Babu was a member of numerous organisations that include All India Council of Sports, Railway Board, Rifle Association of India and Wild Life Protection Committee of Uttar Pradesh.
[edit] Honours and memorials
- K.D. Singh Babu received the Helms Trophy in 1953 for being the best hockey player in the world (1952) and the best sportsman of Asia (1953). This was the first time an Indian was awarded the Helms Trophy - America's Nobel Prize in sport given to the best athlete from each continent.
- In 1958 he was awarded the prestigious Padmashri award by the Government of India.
- The stadiums in Barabanki and Lucknow are named after him. The stadium at Lucknow is known as the K. D. Singh Babu Stadium.
[edit] Death
On March 27, 1978, he died of a gunshot wound from his own weapon. He had committed suicide owing to being plagued by personal problems [1].
[edit] See Also
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
- 1922 births
- 1978 deaths
- Recipients of the Padma Shri
- People from Barabanki
- Indian field hockey players
- Olympic field hockey players of India
- Field hockey players at the 1948 Summer Olympics
- Field hockey players at the 1952 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists for India
- Sportspeople who committed suicide
- Suicides in India
- Olympic medalists in field hockey
