B. P. Govinda

{{Infobox field hockey player

| name = B. P. Govinda

| fullname = Billimoga Puttaswamy Govinda

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1951|03|04}}

| birth_place = Somwarpet, Coorg State, India

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nickname =

| height = {{convert|5|ft|7|in|m|abbr=on}}{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Govinda Billimogaputtaswamy |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bi/govinda-billimogaputtaswamy-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418073621/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bi/govinda-billimogaputtaswamy-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-18}}

| position = Forward

| clubs1 = Mohun Bagan

| years1 = 1967–19??

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| clubs2 =

| years2 =

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| clubs3 =

| years3 =

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| nationalteam1 = India

| nationalyears1 = 1970–19??

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| turnedpro =

| coach =

| retired =

| coaching =

| updated =

|medaltemplates-expand=yes

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{IND}} }}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} File:Olympic rings.svg

}}

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.

Career

Govinda was considered one of the fastest hockey players during his time and was known for his ball shooting ability.{{cite web |title=Short Biography of Bilimoria Putaswamy Govinda - fastest hockey players of his times |url=http://www.preservearticles.com/2011081710971/short-biography-of-bilimoria-putaswamy-govinda-fastest-hockey-players-of-his-times.html |publisher=Preserve Articles |accessdate=2013-01-20 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123352/http://www.preservearticles.com/2011081710971/short-biography-of-bilimoria-putaswamy-govinda-fastest-hockey-players-of-his-times.html |url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Sharma |first1=Avinash |title=Legendary India hockey player BP Govinda recalls his equaliser in Bronze Medal match in Munich Olympics |url=https://www.mykhel.com/hockey/legendary-india-hockey-player-bp-govinda-recalls-his-equaliser-in-bronze-medal-match-in-munich-games-169845.html?story=1 |website=mykhel.com |access-date=23 May 2022 |language=en |date=1 July 2021}}

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.{{cite news |title=Hockey India prunes probables' list to 33 |url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/hockey-india-prunes-probables-list-to-33/20121029.htm |publisher=Rediff |date=2012-10-29 |accessdate=2013-01-20}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20071027022007/http://sportal.nic.in/legenddetails.asp?sno=700&moduleid=&maincatid=41&subid=0&comid=55 B. P. Govinda profile]
{{Olympedia}}

{{Navboxes

|title=India squads

| bg = #0077FF

| fg = #FFFF40

|list1=

}}

Category:1951 births

Category:Living people

Category:Olympic field hockey players for India

Category:Field hockey players at the 1972 Summer Olympics

Category:Field hockey players at the 1976 Summer Olympics

Category:Indian male field hockey players