Sikh hockey legend Balbir Singh honoured in Canada

An Indian-origin Sikh hockey player was honoured in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC), a media report said.

Assistant deputy speaker of the B.C. Legislature, MLA Raj Chouhan, honoured 92-year-old Indian field hockey legend Balbir Singh in the House on Wednesday, The Voice reported on Thursday.

"Madam Speaker it gives me a great pleasure and honour to speak about an unsung hero and a forgotten legend. Balbir Singh has won three Olympic Gold medals in field hockey. The first in 1948 in London, winning India's first gold medal as a sovereign nation. He won the second gold in Helsinki. He led his team in scoring, including setting an Olympic / Guinness Record in the final when he scored five goals. That record stands to this day," Chouhan said.

"Then again in 1956 in Melbourne he won his third gold medal when he led his team. He scored 22 goals over three Olympic Games. Singh was the only chief coach and manager to lead India to a World Cup victory in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur, he added.

Singh was named one of 16 Iconic Olympians by the International Olympic Committee along with Jesse Owens and Australian track and field star Cathy Freeman in 2012. He was the only South Asian and field hockey player on the list.

"Today he is joined by a great author Patrick Blennerhassett. Patrick has written a very invigorating book about him called 'A Forgotten Legend'. This book will be launched on March 5," Chouhan noted.