Heroics like those of Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes in the recent England-India series end up becoming more than just sporting moments.
A similar incident occurred when India and Pakistan locked horns on a global sporting stage for the first time.
Balbir Singh Sr: The legend
The stakes were as high as they could be — it was the men’s hockey final of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. One of India’s biggest sporting icons and back then the ace player of the team Balbir Singh Sr, was nursing a fractured finger. Despite that, he played.
Balbir Singh had been part of the teams that won gold in 1948 and 1952. In 1956, in India’s opening fixture against Afghanistan, he scored a staggering five goals but also picked up the injury in the process.
The head coach's inisistence
In his absence, India discovered a new hero. Udham Singh scored 15 goals and was spearheading India’s undefeated run for the gold. Despite that, head coach Harbail Singh insisted that Balbir Singh should play in the final.
"He told me that even if I wasn’t able to play my best hockey, my reputation was such that opponents would use two players to mark me and it would free up space for my other forwards.” Balbir Singh would later recall.
The final and the secret
The status of Balbir Singh’s injury was kept from the opposition. He took pain killing injections before the start and during half-time. He was also mindful of not shaking hands with anyone that day and rather resorted to waving.
It turned out to be a gruelling match in which Pakistan matched India toe to toe for the most part. However, Randhir Singh Gentle’s goal in the 38th minute and some steely saves from goalkeeper Shankar Lakshman helped India secure the win.
India’s sixth successive gold
This was India’s sixth successive gold medal in Olympic hockey and Balbir Singh’s third. Next year, he became the first sportsperson to receive the Padma Shri award.
While those accolades would be remembered forever, it is the courage he exhibited by taking the field despite the injury that will echo through generations far beyond any record.
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