Mohammad Shahid, a superstar in the Indian hockey team of the 1980s, passed away on Wednesday, aged 56, due to multiple organ failure. He was suffering from liver and kidney problems.
The 56-year-old former forward was admitted to Medanta Medicity Hospital in Gurgaon a few days back after a bout of jaundice and dengue made his condition worse.
The Golden Era of Indian hockey, many believe, ended in the 1980s, with India’s last Olympic gold coming in the Moscow. And many consider Shahid, a star of that side, to be one of India’s greatest ever hockey players.
He was a part of India’s last Olympic gold medal winning team. He was also a member of the 1982 and 1986 Asian Games squad which won silver and bronze respectively.
Appealing for support from the government for Shahid’s treatment, Dhanraj Pillay had said earlier:
“Shahid bhai is a legend, an icon, someone who made India proud internationally. Indian hockey was known across the world because of players like him. As a person and as a player, he lifted the Tricolour high with pride in being an Indian.”
Rest in peace, Mohammad Shahid!
(More to follow…)