Baboolal Goverdhan Joshi – a hockey historian and statistician from India – fondly known as BG Joshi, passed away in Bhopal today due to covid-related complications. He is survived by his wife Krishna, sons Shravan and Neeraj, daughters-in-law, a grandson and a granddaughter.
The hockey historian worked as an engineer at the Madhya Pradesh Water Resource Department. A passionate lover of hockey, BG Joshi began maintaining records of the sport from the world over since the early 1970s and also contributed hockey statistics to several reputed national dailies.
What began as a mere interest when he jolted down details from the 1970 Bangkok Asiad, Joshi became the go-to man for hockey statistics from across the globe. With India’s dominance at the world stage, Joshi’s interest in collecting data grew many folds. It was during the 1978 World Cup that his first statistical and analytical piece appeared in a Hindi daily. During the 1982 World Cup in Bombay, he brought out a special issue and in the 1986 World Cup he brought out a magazine. From there on, there was no looking back for this modest Bhopal man who would often travel with his wife to FIH tournaments in India post his retirement.
The Asian Hockey Federation commiserates the sad demise of such a rare hockey figure and a hockey lover.
