“A incredible physician and above all a incredible human being. He cared for the crew like his family,” these are the primary phrases by 1975 Hockey World Cup profitable Indian hockey crew captain Ajitpal Singh when requested about Dr Rajender Kalra, the crew physician within the 1975 Hockey World Cup in Malaysia.
Kalra, 89, breathed his final at his Chandigarh dwelling on Monday. The previous PGIMER medical Superintendent and professor of hospital administration, who together with Indian hockey legend Balbir Singh Senior, supervisor of the 1975 World Cup Indian hockey crew, and G S Bodhi, coach of the crew, shaped the well-known trio of the crew administration. Kalra had retired from the PGIMER in 1994 and is survived by spouse Madhu Kalra and three sons Dr Aman Kalra, Dr Tarun Kalra, and Rohan Kalra.
“As a captain of the 1975 hockey world cup Indian crew hockey crew, I provide my condolences on the demise of Dr Rajender Kalra. He handled every certainly one of us like his household and it’s a giant loss for every certainly one of us,” mentioned the previous Indian hockey captain Ajitpal Singh whereas talking with The Indian Categorical.
A former doctor to then Punjab governor D C Pavte from 1971 to 1974, Kalra turned part of the Indian crew’s coaching camp held by the then Punjab authorities on the Panjab College grounds forward of the 1975 Hockey World Cup in Malaysia. Kalra, who was posted as deputy medical superintendent PGIMER at the moment, got here on board on the insistence of then PGIMER head Dr P N Chuttani, an in depth pal of triple Olympics gold medallist and former Indian hockey captain Balbir Singh Senior.
Whereas Balbir Senior was the supervisor of the crew, the hockey legend misplaced his father in the course of the camp and his spouse too was admitted to PGIMER attributable to mind haemorrhage in the course of the camp. Kalra would attend the coaching camp as effectively preserving inventory of Balbir’s spouse’s well being.
“Dr Rajender Kalra was greater than a member of the family for our household. When my father Balbir Senior met him for the camp, he was very impressed with the physician’s caring persona and that was one of many most important causes my father additionally took him to the world cup. When my grandfather died and my mom was admitted within the PGIMER on the similar time, Kalra made certain that my father didn’t have to fret about my mom’s well being. He was additionally there for the gamers at any time and would additionally encourage them together with his talks forward of the ultimate in opposition to Pakistan within the World Cup in Malaysia,” mentioned Sushbir Bhomia, daughter of Balbir Senior.
Bhomia additionally shared one incident that highlighted the bond between her father and Kalra. “When my father was admitted at Fortis months earlier than his demise, Kalra too was admitted on the hospital’s ICU attributable to age-related points. Days after, when my father returned dwelling and we determined to rejoice his birthday, we didn’t anticipate Kalra to hitch us as medical doctors had suggested him to relaxation. However he got here dwelling to rejoice my father’s birthday and it stays a particular reminiscence for us,” recalled Bhomia.
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Brigadier Harcharan Singh (retired), who scored the profitable purpose within the semi-final in opposition to Malaysia within the 1975 World Cup, too shared about his recollections of Kalra. “The then Punjab CM Giani Zail Singh and sports activities minister Umrao Singh had organized the coaching camp for the Indian crew at Chandigarh. When Kalra got here onboard, all of us have been impressed together with his caring angle for each crew member. He would additionally ensure that the gamers have been match bodily as effectively mentally,” mentioned Brigadier Harcharan.
Earlier final month, Hockey India celebrated the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the 1975 Hockey World Cup Indian hockey crew’s feat.
“No one from the households of us, coach G S Bodhi, and Kalra have been invited for the perform. Hockey India ought to have executed that or ought to have talked about their position within the crew’s triumph on stage a minimum of. Now the third member of the trio of my grandfather, G S Bodhi and Kalra is gone. They need to do one thing in honour of them,” mentioned Kabir Singh Bhomia, grandson of Balbir Senior.
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