LEADING INDIAN HOCKEY PLAYER

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 3

LEADING INDIAN HOCKEY PLAYER

ILLNESS OF BABU SINGH

Hockey enthusiasts will learn with regret of the serious illness of Kunwar D. Singh, better known as Babu. He became ill soon after his return to India from the New Zealand tour by the Indian Wanderers last year. He spent about two months in the Lucknow Hospital and is now,recuperating. Babu has been India’s greatest forward in post-war years and participated in both the London and Helsinki Olympic Games, being India’s captain in 1952. He was chieflv responsible for developing the last Olympic team into a match-winning combination, and was granted the Helms Foundation's award in that year for the athlete from the continent of Asia who made the greatest contribution to sport by performance and conduct. When in New Zealand Babu proved himself not only a great player in the top Indian tradition but also an outstanding theorist and splendid sportsman. His recent illness prevented him from taking part in the Indian provincial tournament from which the players for ’ the Olympic squad arc selected. According to a rule of the Indian Hockey Federation, it is necessary’ for any candidate for the Olympic team to play in this tournament. It is significant that the rule has been waived in Babu s case. l As far as New Zealand hockey is • concerned, it is to be hoped that the j finesse and skill of Babu Singh will be remembered long after the hard hitting of R. S. Gentle is