Bir Bahadur Singh : The Goal Machine
The Glorious Past
Bir Bahadur Singh was the former Indian Footballer, he had his fair share of contribution to the football he played in the 1966 Asian Games. He was born in Dehradun and grew up playing football. In the 1960s, he joined EME in Hyderabad and went on to play senior national football for Services until 1974. He was a lethal striker of the ball, he represented EME center and services in football tournaments before he played the Asian Games.
Bahadur was a powerful right-footer who, according to legend, ripped the ball a couple of times when he released those destructive kicks, which even legendary goalkeeper late Peter Thangaraj witnessed in a trial match between the Indian team and the Services at the then Calcutta Maidan. Bahadur played for Services in the National Football Championship until 1974 and was known for his tremendous burst and ball control.
His big break came in 1966 when he wowed the selectors with lethal goal-scoring shots during the selection trial matches. Aleem Khan, a former State footballer, described him as an opportunistic striker who could convert half-chances.
Difficult Times
Things became really different and difficult after he retired from football. After marrying off his daughter in 2005 and paying for his children’s education he got into a lot of debt and had to open a small chaat shop by the roadside to make the ends meet. It also did not last long as the shop was removed for the road expansion. Bahadur was struggling financially and physically. He started suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes
The Tragic Ending
Due to his increasing health problems, it was getting difficult for him to maintain his health. His family struggled to pay the cost of his medicines also. It was becoming difficult day by day to hold on for him, then things took a bad turn and he slipped into the coma and finally died due to such increased health complications. In an interview with NDTV, he said “It is very painful when I look back. More so because I was not recognized for anything that I have done. If anyone comes forward, I will be grateful to God,”