Moga, May 27 : The staff and Management of the Dev Samaj Senior Secondary School Moga observed first death anniversary of Olympian and Padmashree Balbir Singh Senior and passed a resolution appealing the State Govt, to raise a suitable memorial in Moga as Late Shree Balbir Singh Senior has studied from 1st to Xth class from Dev Samaj School Moga. His father was also a Punjabi teacher in this school.
The Moga residents have appreciated the step taken by the State Govt for dedicating the Mohali International Hockey Stadium in the name of Padma Shri Balbir Singh Senior and hailed the decision of launching his statue, The people of Moga thanked the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Sodhi for honouring the legacy of the legendary sportsperson.
Punjab Sports, Youth Services and NRI Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, while had given his nod regarding the naming of Mohali international hockey Stadium after the name of Padma Shri Balbir Singh Senior, dedicated the hockey stadium to memory of Padma Shri Balbir Singh Senior. Now onwards the stadium would be known as “Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium.”
It may be recalled that Balbir Singh Senior played an important role in the Indian hockey team to be the three-time Olympic champion as no one has been able to break his Olympic final record, till date. He scored five goals in India’s 6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the final of the 1952 Olympic Games.
Balbir Singh Senior was the manager of the 1975 World Cup winning Indian hockey team. He served as the Director, Sports Department, Punjab and encouraged the youth for the sports arena. Punjab Government had honoured the legendary player with Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award in 2019.
During his last visit to Moga when questioned he narrated an unforgettable incidence of his hockey carrier that how he believed in one nest of God. He disclosed that during his visit to Qualalampur, he was accompanied with the hockey team members and a close friend Mohd. Aslam who offered Namaz in the Royal Mosque for the victory of the team. After the Namaz the Imam of the Mosque came near them and said to Balbir that you are a Sikh and even then you came to Mosque for prayer. Balbir replied to the Imam that he was follower of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and according to his Guru there is one and only one God who is every where omnipresent. Listening this the Imam blessed the team and they left off. When India won the World Cup some of the Pakistan Hockey team players joked Balbir that India has won only because they have prayed in our Mosque. Balbir laughed at their jokes and contented that God is one.(UNI)