India, especially Punjab, on Monday lost its hockey wizard. The 95-year-old three-time Olympic champion and one of the greatest ever hockey players India has ever produced, Padma Shri Balbir Singh Dosanjh, passed away after prolonged illness on Monday.
Popularly known as Balbir Singh Senior, he was undergoing treatment in Mohali since May 8 after complaining of high fever and breathing problems. He had also suffered three cardiac arrests but had been stable since May 13. However, his condition worsened after fresh blood clot was detected in his brain and pneumonia patches in his lungs on May 18. He had been semi-comatose and on ventilator support since then.
“He died at 6:17 am this morning,” said Abhijit Singh, Director Fortis Hospital, Mohali, where he was admitted since May 8.