Balkrishan Singh (10 March 1933 – 31 December 2004)[1] was a field hockey player from India who won the gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser was so impressed with him that he went on record praising Balkrishan Singh's coaching abilities.

The match ended in a goal-less draw, thank the defender Balkrishan, though Pakistan was declared winner on the basis of goal average.

Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Fraser, a hockey umpire, praised Balkrishan's services when he met his counterpart Morarji Desai later.

He was recalled for the next Olympics only after India fared poorly in the Bombay World Cup and in the Delhi Asian Games in between.

In the run up to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, his team set up a tremendous record, but the players' greed and lack of discipline spoilt the whole show at Barcelona—a sad end to an illustrious career.

Based on his research, Balkrishan proposed abolition of penalty corners and striking circle in order to make the game simple.