The Golden Hat-Trick

The Autobiography of Balbir Singh (Senior)
By Samuel Banerjee, Vikas Publishers, 1977

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India's Golden Team				India's Record in the 1956 Olympics: Played : 5 Won : 5 Goals For : 38 Goals Against : 0
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have no hesitation in stating that our 1956 team comprised the finest set of players in the post-Independence period.

In Francis, we had an excellent goalkeeper, perhaps the best India has ever produced. The halves, Claudius, Amir Kumar and Perumal, were capable of producing their best in moments of stress and strain. The great Gentle stood like the "Rock of Gibralter" in the deep defence with Bakshish Singh.

Udham was in great form, and given the support of a fit Charles and a fit Balbir, he could be a terror to any defence. The other forwards, R. S. Bhola and Gurdev Singh, were good play makers. It was indeed an ideal team.

India's record in the 1956 Olympics at Melbourne was as follows :

• Played : 5
• Won : 5
• Goals For : 38
• Goals Against : 0

The following were the members of the 1956 Indian Olympic Team :

• Balbir Singh (Captain)
• Shankar Lakshman
• Ranganathan Francis
• Bakshish Singh
• Randhir Singh Gentle
• Leslie Claudius
• Amir Kumar
• Govind Perumal
• Charles Stephen
• Gurdev Singh
• Udham Singh
• Raghbir Singh Bhola
• Balkrishan Singh
• Haripal Kaushik
• Raghbir Lal
• Amit S. Bakshi
• Harbail Singh (Coach)
• O. P. Mehra (Manager)

Indian Olympic Team (Melbourne, 1956)