Learning is a continued process – Balwinder

CHANDIGARH, May 5: Olympian Balwinder Singh of Railways has started developing good understanding among the players. Being himself a good inside-left and played Olympics, the Railway coach has gained enough experience to handle any team with confidence. “Learning is a continued process. It is applicable to all, players, coaches, officials etc,” says soft-spoken Balwinder. He is among the four coaches attached to the national hockey camp being held at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium. Rajinder Singh, Sushil Kumar and Satinder Singh are the other coaches, who are imparting training to the Indian probables.

The Amritsar-based Balwinder’s first assignment as a coach for an international meet was last year when the Indian team visited Russia to play matches. He also coached the Railway team which won Nationals in 1998 after a gap of seven years. In the 1998-99 edition of the National Championship in Hyderabad, Railways finished third under his command.

Known for the exploits in the forward line, Balwinder Singh started his international career in 1983 when India participated in the 10-nation hockey at Hong Kong.

In 1985, the Railway forward competed in the Asia Cup at Dhaka and Junior World Cup in Canada. He slowly graduated to the senior section when he donned the India colour in the Senior World Cup in London and later was a member of the Indian team for the 1986 Seoul Asian Games.

Displaying his fine stick-work, he was adjudged the best player in the 1987 pre-Olympics in Kenya.

Balwinder continued to give consistent performance and was selected in the Indian squad for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Before turning coach, the Railway forward was a member of the Indian victorious team in 1989 Asia Cup in Delhi and participated in the 1990 World Cup at Lahore.

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Balwinder has also acted as umpire in a number of A’ grade hockey tournaments.