The team selection ahead of the 1952 Games was marred by such controversy that India looked destined to return home from Finland empty handed. There was a near-riotous situation concerning the inclusion and omission of players to an extent that the critics wrote off the team, led by Kunwar Digvijay Singh ‘Babu’, as a bunch of no-hopers despite India having won four gold medals at consecutive Olympics.
‘Babu’ was at his wit’s end as the team played a few matches at home and was even beaten 0-1 by a Madras XI with Susainathan scoring the lone goal that cruelly exposed the tottering defence. The forward subsequently lost his front row teeth following a collision with one of the defenders, but by then, the damage had been done.
Thus, it was with some relief that the team left Indian shores to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the pre-Olympic camp and in a bid to acclimatise to the Nordic weather conditions. The move was probably the best thing that the beleaguered team could have done.
To top it, in a moment of panic, centre-forward C.S.Gurung was rushed to Helsinki, but his presence hardly mattered as he did not get to play even a single match.
With 13 teams in the fray, the competition was held on a knock-out basis with India, Pakistan and Great Britain receiving a bye into the second round (quarter-finals).
For all the pre-Games turmoil back home, the Indian team put on a classy display by defeating Austria 4-0, Great Britain 3-1 in the semi-final and outclassing Holland 6-1 for their fifth gold medal in a row.
‘Babu’ was the toast of the tournament as also Bablir Singh who fired nine of the 13 goals that India scored in the competition ‘Babu’ was decorated with the ‘best sportsman of Asia’ and also the ‘best hockey player in the word’ titles.
Indian team: Kunwar Digvijay Singh ‘Babu’ (captain), Ranganadhan Francis, Chinnadorai Deshamuthu, Dharam Singh, Swarup Singh, Randhir Singh Gentle, Govind Perumal, Meldric St Clair Daluz, Keshav Dutt, Leslie Walter Claudius, Jaswant Singh Rajput, Balbir Singh Sr, Grahanandan Nandy Singh, Muniswamy Rajagopal, GS Dubey, CS Gurung, Raghbir Lall Sharma, Udham Singh Kullar.
Results: India beat Austria 4-0 (Raghbir Lall Sharma 1; Randhir Singh Gentle 1; Kunwar Digvijai Singh ‘Babu’ 1; Balbir Singh 1).
Semi-final: India beat Great Britain 3-1 (Balbir Singh 3).
Final: India beat Holland 6-1 (Balbir Singh 5; Kunwar Digvijai Singh ‘Babu’ 1)
Positions: India 1; Holland 2; Great Britain 3; Pakistan 4; Germany 5; Poland 6; Austria 7; Switzerland 8; France 9; Belgium 10; Italy 11; Finland 12.
Borne in 1922, Babu lost a decade due to 2nd World war. First time he represented India at 1948 Olympics and in 1952 Olympics he led India brilliantly. He was a master strategist, inspiring leader and all time great player. Very hard working, naturally gifted and able bodied, he has been one of the all time great sports person. He continued to play extra ordinary Hockey much beyond his last Olympics of 1952 and devoted his later part of life to coaching, innovative sports incubation centre in form of sports hostel and became an able sports administrator.
“Babu” was honored with the Helms Trophy for being the Best Hockey player in the World in the year 1953, and was the first Asian player to receive the award. The Government of India bestowed upon him the prestigious Padma Shri award in the year 1958. Apart from it, a sports stadium in Lucknow has been named after him, and is known as K.D. Singh Babu Stadium. We miss him as an able human and an all time great sports person.