Lucknow, Feb 1 : Sports loving city of Lucknow joins the entire nation to remember fondly its own hockey wizard late Keshav Dev Singh-popularily known as K D Singh Babu on his 88th birth anniversary falling tomorrow.

Padamshri K D Singh ‘Babu’, along with another hockey legend Dhyan Chand, entralled the sports lovers all over the country for his amazing skills with the stick ,the glory he brought to nation and his missionary zeal to promote the game.

Born on Feburary 2,1922 in a small hamlet of adjoining Barabanki district, Babu started showing his talent in hockey at a tender age of 14 when he played his first tournamnet at Dewa in Barabanki.

Two years later, He played his first major tournament for Lucknow Youngmen’s Association (LYA) against Manavdar team for the traders cup hockey championship at New Delhi and here he caught the fancy of the greats of the game. An olympian Hussain was pitted against him and was amazed by his natural game and stunning stick-work.

It was only after the match that his coach Mushaquzza Jama disclosed Hussain’s identity much to the confidence of the young protege who went on to become hockey great.