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When Balbir Singh Sr told MS Dhoni: ‘Your victory contributes towards my good health’

The encounter with MS Dhoni happened four years ago when the Indian team was at the PCA stadium in Mohali ahead of their ICC World T20 2016 tie against Australia. Balbir Singh Sr wanted to convey his good wishes to the team before the game

when balbir singh sr told ms dhoni your victory contributes towards my good health
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Chandigarh, First Published May 26, 2020, 6:16 PM IST

Chandigarh: His name was synonymous with hockey but Balbir Singh Sr was not immune to the charm of India's favourite sport — cricket. He once told former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni that "your victory contributes towards my good health".

The 95-year-old Singh, who won three consecutive Olympics gold medals, died in Mohali on Monday (May 25).

Also read: Balbir Singh Sr breathes his last aged 95

The encounter with Dhoni happened four years ago when the Indian team was at the PCA stadium in Mohali ahead of their World T20 tie against Australia. Singh wanted to convey his good wishes to the team before the game.

Dhoni had thanked him and enquired about his health, to which the legend had smiled and replied, "Your victory contributes towards my good health."

Also read: Sportspersons including Sachin, Kohli pay tributes to Balbir Singh Sr

Singh had told PTI, "I came to wish the team to win their third world title and complete their own golden hat-trick."

India defeated Australia to make the semi-finals before going down to the West Indies in that edition of the World T20. India had won the World T20 title in 2007 and the 50-over World Cup in 2011.

The hockey icon was battling multiple health issues and had been on life support for over two weeks. One of the country’s greatest athletes, Singh became the only Indian among 16 legends chosen by the International Olympic Committee across the modern Olympic history.

His world record for most goals scored by an individual in the men’s hockey final of the Olympics has stood the test of time. He had scored five goals in India’s 6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal match at the 1952 Helsinki Games. He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1957 and was also the manager of India’s World Cup-winning team in 1975.

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