K. D. Singh
Encyclopedia
Kunwar Digvijay Singh (February 2, 1922 in Barabanki – March 27, 1978 in Lucknow
), popularly known as "K.D.Singh 'Babu'", was an India
n field hockey
player. He was born in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh
. Babu's artistry, craftsmanship and creative instincts saw him blossom into one of the finest inside-rights that India
has produced. His ball and body control was instinctive, a sort of sixth sense.
. He played in the capacity of vice-captain in the 1948 Olympic Games. He was the captain of the gold medal-winning Indian team at 1952 Helsinki Olympics Games. The Indian team won a gold medal on both occasions. The 1948 outing was the first Olympic participation of India
as an independent nation, which made the gold medal victory a very important achievement for the nascent nation even though it had won the Olympic gold in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
), popularly known as "K.D.Singh 'Babu'", was an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player. He was born in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. Babu's artistry, craftsmanship and creative instincts saw him blossom into one of the finest inside-rights that India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
has produced. His ball and body control was instinctive, a sort of sixth sense.
As a player
He was first selected to All India Hockey Team in 1946-47 for the tour to AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He played in the capacity of vice-captain in the 1948 Olympic Games. He was the captain of the gold medal-winning Indian team at 1952 Helsinki Olympics Games. The Indian team won a gold medal on both occasions. The 1948 outing was the first Olympic participation of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as an independent nation, which made the gold medal victory a very important achievement for the nascent nation even though it had won the Olympic gold in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
As a coach
He later served as the coach for Indian hockey team for the 1972 Munich Olympics. K.D. Singh Babu was a member of numerous organisations that include All India Council of Sports, Railway Board, Rifle Association of India and Wild Life Protection Committee of Uttar Pradesh.Honours and memorials
- K.D. Singh Babu received the Helms Trophy in 1953 for being the best hockey player in the world (1952) and the best sportsman of Asia (1953). This was the first time an Indian was awarded the Helms Trophy - America's Nobel Prize in sport given to the best athlete from each continent.
- In 1958 he was awarded the prestigious Padmashri award by the Government of India.
- The stadiums in Barabanki and LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
are named after him. The stadium at Lucknow is known as the K. D. Singh Babu StadiumK. D. Singh Babu StadiumThe K.D. Singh Babu Stadium is a Test cricket stadium named after the famous hockey player K. D. Singh in Lucknow, India.It replaced the University Ground as the premier cricket ground. The stadium hosts domestic competitions regularly. It is located near the busy Hazratganj area of downtown...
.