At 56, Hockey Legend Mohammad Shahid Passes Away

He was just 56.

Mohammad Shahid was just 56. 

Hockey legend Mohammed Shahid has passed away after battling kidney and liver problems at a Gurgaon hospital. He was 56.

Yes, he is no more. He suffered multiple organ failure this morning. It’s a sad news.

Hospital source

The legend was suffering from jaundice and dengue had made his condition worse. Earlier this month, he was airlifted from Varanasi and admitted to a Gurgaon hospital.

Shahid was part of the Indian team that clinched the gold medal in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He was also a member of the team that won the silver medal at the Delhi Asian Games in 1982 and bronze in the Seoul Asiad in 1986.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the hockey fraternity and sports lovers in grieving Shahid’s death.

Remembering the time during the 1980 Games in Moscow, M K Kaushik, who was one of the closest friends of Shahid, said his team spirit was amazing.

He was quite young in 1980 and were very senior to him. He respected every one and had a jolly nature. His dribbling skills played a crucial part in India winning the gold. The whole world respected his excellent stick work. There was no one who could match him whether it was a creating a penalty corner or firing a field goal.

M K Kaushik

Shahid made his first appearance for India in the junior team in 1979 at the Junior World Cup in France. He made his debut with the senior team in the same year in a four-nation tournament in Kuala Lumpur under the captaincy of Vasudevan Baskaran, after his inclusion in the team following his impressive performance in the Aga Khan Cup.

His attacking partnership on the field with Zafar Iqbal was well known.

He was awarded the ‘Best Forward player’ at the 1980 Champions Trophy in Karachi. His skill and ability earned him a place in the Asian All-Star team in 1986. He also captained the Indian team during 1985–86.

Later, he also served as sports officer with the Indian Railways in Varanasi.