B. P. Govinda

Billimoga Puttaswamy Govinda (born 4 March 1951) was an Indian field hockey player who played as a forward, and a former captain of the Indian national team.

B. P. Govinda
Personal information
Full name Billimoga Puttaswamy Govinda
Born (1951-03-04) 4 March 1951
Somwarpet, Coorg State, India
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1]
Playing position Forward
Senior career
Years Team
1967–19?? Mohun Bagan
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–19?? India
Medal record
Men's Field Hockey
Representing  India
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place1972 MunichTeam
World Cup
Silver medal – second place1973 AmsterdamTeam
Gold medal – first place1975 Kuala LumpurTeam
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place1970 BangkokTeam
Silver medal – second place1974 TehranTeam
Silver medal – second place1978 BangkokTeam

Career

Govinda was considered one of the fastest hockey players during his time and was known for his ball shooting ability.[2]

Govinda's professional career began in the 1967–68 season with Mohun Bagan. In his inaugural season, the team won the Beighton Cup and the first division. His teammates included Olympians Gurbux Singh and Vece Paes.[3]

Govinda played for India in the three Asian Games: 1970, 1974 and 1978 with India finishing second in all the three of them. He also played in the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich, 1973 World Cup in Amsterdam, 1975 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur which India won beating Pakistan 2-1 in the Finals and at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

In 1972, Govinda was selected for the World XI team. He was awarded the Arjuna Award for his contribution to Indian hockey.

He then took up the role of the selector for the national hockey team.[4]

References
  1. "Player's Profile". Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  2. "Short Biography of Bilimoria Putaswamy Govinda - fastest hockey players of his times". Preserve Articles. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  3. Sharma, Avinash (1 July 2021). "Legendary India hockey player BP Govinda recalls his equaliser in Bronze Medal match in Munich Olympics". mykhel.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  4. "Hockey India prunes probables' list to 33". Rediff. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.


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