Balwant Singh Saini

Last updated

Bal Saini
Personal information
Born 22 September 1949
Kisumu, Kenya
Playing position Forward
Senior career
YearsTeam
1971–1973 Impala
1973–1974 London Sikh Union
1975–1982 Slough
1997–1998 Indian Gymkhana
National team
YearsTeamCaps
1977–1984 England 18

Balwant Singh Saini (born 22 September 1949) is a Kenyan born former British hockey international of Indian descent. [1]

Biography

Saini was born in Kisumu, Kenya and educated at Kisumu High School before studying at Newcastle University in England. [1] He played club hockey for Slough Hockey Club in the Men's England Hockey League.

He made his debut for England on 12 March 1977 in the Rank Xerox hockey tournamant, when he played against West Germany at Lords, London. [2] He scored a spectacular goal on his debut at Lords which is still remembered.

He went on to win 18 England caps and played in the 4th World Cup in Buenos Aires in 1978. [3] [4]

Bal also won his first England Indoor cap on 10 January 1981 against Scotland in Cardiff. He went on to win 18 England caps and another 18 indoor caps, scoring 11 goals. [1]

On the domestic circuit, he was also a member of Slough's successful teams in the late 70s and early 80s.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Balwant Singh Saini". Sikhs in Hockey. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "England include four new caps" . Daily Mirror. 4 March 1977. Retrieved 21 June 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ↑ "Sikhs in Hockey in Great Britain". Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "England select Taylor but Mallett waits" . Birmingham Daily Post. 15 February 1978. Retrieved 22 June 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
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