Born on March 10 1933, in Patiala, the famous son of Punjab shone both as a player and coach, and had an impact on the Indian hockey scene as long as he lived. He had the unique distinction of playing in two Olympics, and then coaching four men’s teams to Olympics and the women’s team to the Asian Games. Balkrishan was the son of Brigadier Dalip Singh, who competed in the 1924 Olympics as an athlete As a student of Punjab University, Balkrishan took up both athletics and hockey seriously, and established a name for himself in both long jump and triple jump. Balkrishan’s schooling was accomplished at his hometown Patiala after which he joined the famous FC College in Lahore (now in Pakistan). He played the inter-University for four yeas from 1950, and the National Championship for Indian Railways before getting selected for India (Warsaw International, 1955). The defender led Railways to title wins twice in 1957 and 1958 on both occasions his team beat the formidable hosts Bombay. The brainy and articulate defender figured in two Olympics (1956 and 1960) and Asian Games (1958) in between in his international career that lasted for six years from 1955. He quit the Railways job premature in order to pursue his passion of coaching and teaching. Balkrishan joined the National Institute of Sports in Patiala in Punjab, a job that gave him name and fame. He coached four Indian men’s team for the Olympics (1968 (bronze), 1980 (gold), 1984 (fifth) and 1992 (seventh)), besides taking women to gold at the 1982 Asian Games where women’s version was introduced. He celebrated coach was invited by the government of Australia to conduct coaching clinic in 1965, which he accomplished touring the country. He was a strong advocate of total hockey, a departure from the traditional approach. Shortly after his retirement as Head Hockey Coach of NIS, the keen golfer died in his sleep on December 31, 2004.