The Autobiography of Balbir Singh (Senior)
By Samuel Banerjee, Vikas Publishers, 1977
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Tour of New Zealand |
Hockey in New Zealand then was more popular among girls than men. Hundreds of girls would come to see our matches and take our autographs. Some even invited us for an evening of dinner and dancing. The wives of our team members were annoyed when their husbands started getting letters that year from their lady fans in New Zealand. We are indeed two worlds apart. |
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he Delhi
Hockey Association arranged a tour of New Zealand and Australia in 1955, and the
team was styled as the Indian Wanderers. The Indian Hockey Federation
insisted that the team include some national players. Babu, Gentle, Claudius,
Raghbir Lal and myself were included in the touring party.
When we toured the Southern islands of New Zealand, the fierce cold blasts from the South Pole ice cap hit us smack in our face, numbing our nerves. It was difficult even to hold the hockey stick. We were forced to drink some brandy, mixed with honey or warm water, to keep ourselves warm.
Intense cold apart, we played in difficult conditions. New Zealand's No. 1 sport is rugby football, one of the roughest and toughest games in the world. During our New Zealand tour, the rugby season was on, and the grounds were in a state of ruin. The ball bounced unevenly, and it was difficult to control it.
The object of our tour was essentially to instill goodwill. There were numerous dance parties and late night outings. Almost no day passed without a reception.
Hockey in New Zealand then was more popular among girls than men. Hundreds of girls would come to see our matches. Day after day girls would come for our autographs. Some even invited us for an evening of dinner and dancing.
As long as I continued playing actively, the best of my fan letters came from New Zealand, some of them couched in intimate and affectionate words. Sushil quietly replied to one of my fans in stern terms. The wives of other team members that year were equally annoyed when their husbands started getting letters from women in New Zealand. We are indeed two worlds apart.
I had to my credit 141 of our team's 203 goals scored in the 38 matches played in New Zealand and Australia. An year before, during the 1954 tour of Malaya (now Singapore and Malaysia), I had notched up 83 of our team's 121 goals in 16 matches.
Having been India's main goal scorer in the Olympics of 1948 (London) and 1952 (Helsinki), I was looking forward to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Indian Wanderers in New Zealand