Times of India: Panjab University to set up Chair in honour of Balbir Sr.
CHANDIGARH: Panjab University Chandigarh will set up a Chair in honour of hockey legend Balbir Singh Senior.
Panjab University Syndicate, which met here today, approved to recommend the setting up of the Chair in honour of the 92-year-old Olympian at the Department of Sports and Physical Education at PU.
PU Vice Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover presided over the Syndicate meeting.
Balbir Senior, on his part, said he was humbled by this rare honour bestowed upon him.
“I am humbled by this rare honour bestowed upon me by the Panjab University. I thank the almighty that I was able to contribute towards the honour of our tricolour,” he said.
“I hope story of my life inspires future generations, to achieve laurels for our country,” he added.
Balbir Sr. was a member of India’s three Olympic gold medal winning teams in London (1948), Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956 as captain).
Besides being a player par excellence, Balbir Sr. was the manager and chief coach of the Indian team for the 1975 World Cup, which India won, and the 1971 World Cup (in which India settled for a bronze medal).
During the London Olympics in 2012, he was felicitated as one of the world’s 16 iconic Olympians.