Played 1948 Olympic final with Dr Chuttani’s help: Balbir Senior

CHANDIGARH: “If it wasn’t for Dr PN Chuttani, I would not have played the hockey final at the 1948 London Olympics, when India won its first gold after Independence,” said triple Olympic gold medallist Balbir Singh Senior on the sidelines of a ‘Meet the Press’ programme here on Sunday.

Legendary hockey player Balbir Singh Senior at the Chandigarh Press Club on Sunday. Tribune photo: NITIN MITTAL

Sanjeev Singh Barriana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

“If it wasn’t for Dr PN Chuttani, I would not have played the hockey final at the 1948 London Olympics, when India won its first gold after Independence,” said triple Olympic gold medallist Balbir Singh Senior on the sidelines of a ‘Meet the Press’ programme here on Sunday. Balbir Singh had gone on to score two goals as India thrashed Great Britain 4-0.

Speaking about the late Dr Chuttani, a former president of the Tribune Trust and PGI ex-Director, the veteran said: “After attempts to sideline me and not let me play on my favourite position of centre forward during earlier matches in the Olympics, I was told that I will not be playing in the final.”

“Dr Chuttani, a hockey enthusiast who was then on a scholarship in England, reacted strongly to the development and met Indian High Commissioner Krishna Menon. The latter agreed to intervene to ensure that I played in the all-important final,” he recalled.

The hockey legend was also part of the Indian Olympic team that won the gold in Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956). Balbir Singh said the greatest glory in his life was to see the Tricolour unfurled every time the team won.

On his protracted struggle to get back his memorabilia, including 36 medals, from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), he said: “Nathde nathde thak gaye haan. Pata nahin mere medal kitthe gaye. Eh vi pata nahin kide kol ja ke rovan (I am exhausted. I have no idea where my medals are).” The items also include the blazer he wore during the 1956 Olympics.

Balbir Singh had given the medals to the SAI for a proposed museum back in 1985. “I needed a few of them for submission to the London Olympic Committee, which was honouring 16 heroes of various disciplines. Leave aside returning my possessions, I have not even got a reply about their fate,” he said.

His daughter, Sushbir Bhomia, who is fighting the case for the lost items, said: “No one is giving us clear answers, but we will keep making efforts to find them.”

On the upcoming Asian Games, Balbir Singh said he was hopeful of a good performance by the Indian hockey team.

Envoy’s intervention did the trick

After attempts to sideline me and not let me play on my favourite position of centre forward during earlier matches in the Olympics, I was told that I would not be playing in the final. Dr Chuttani, a hockey enthusiast who was then on a scholarship in England, reacted strongly to the development and met Indian High Commissioner Krishna Menon. The latter agreed to intervene to ensure that I played in the all-important final.

Struggle to get back memorabilia

Nathde nathde thak gaye haan. Pata nahin mere medal kitthe gaye. Eh vi pata nahin kide kol ja ke rovan (I am exhausted. I have no idea where my medals are). — Balbir Singh Senior