Hockey Olympian Jaswant Singh Rajput passes away

KOLKATA: Two-time gold medal winning hockey Olympian Jaswant Singh Rajput passed away this morning following a prolonged illness, according to the Bengal Hockey Association.

He was 88. "He was suffering from age related illness for more than a month and was looked after by his niece at his Bradford Lane residence near Park Street," a BHA official said.

His last rites would be performed tomorrow. Paying glowing tributes to Jaswant Singh Rajput, former Olympian Gurbux Singh said: "He was part of the galaxy of stars that made India proud. He was unassuming and made Kolkata his home after shifting base."

The former India centre-half was part of the gold medal winning teams in 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

With the likes of Leslie Claudius, Keshav Dutt and Meldric Daluz, Jaswant had formed a lethal foursome and was part of a golden era in Bengal hockey with as many as seven players in the Helsinki-bound side.

He shifted from Delhi to pursue his career in hockey and played for Bhowanipore Club before moving to Mohun Bagan in 1952 as helped them to win the Beighton Cup.