New Delhi, India, May 25, 2020: Balbir Singh Sr, one of India's greatest hockey players, died on Monday morning after battling multiple health issues for over two weeks, the Press Trust of India reports.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist was 96 and is survived by his daughter Sushbir and three sons Kanwalbir, Karanbir and Gurbir.
One of the country's most accomplished athletes, the iconic centre-forward was the only Indian among 16 legends chosen by the International Olympic Committee across modern Olympic history.
His world record for most goals scored by an individual in the men's hockey final of the Olympics still remains unbeaten.
He 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. Balbir Sr's three Olympic gold medals came in London (1948), Helsinki (1952) as vice-captain and Melbourne (1956) as captain.
He was also the manager of India's only World Cup-winning side in 1975.