Mohammad Shahid goes past the goal post

Do you remember Mohammad Shahid? The great hockey player? Considered as the greatest dribbler, stick magician during the 1980s before Pargat Singh came into picture? The former captain of Indian national hockey team Mohammad Shahid lost his final battle for life. He was in coma and had been on ventilator at the Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon.

Shahid was suffering from a complicated jaundice and dengue. His condition required liver transplantation but his kidneys were not functioning well. So, liver transplant was not possible. His creatinine and bilirubin levels were very high signaling a very critical stage of his ailment.

It was in June when Mohammad Shahid was diagnosed with jaundice and dengue after he complained of severe stomach pain in Varanasi, where he lived. He was rushed to the Sunder Lal Hospital in the BHU. But, his condition worsened. On doctors’ advice, Shahid was airlifted to the Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon on June 29.

Doctors at Medanta said that Shahid developed jaundice due to weak immunity. His body was weak and not responding properly to medication, which complicated the problem. The hockey legend had been in the ICU ever since he was admitted to the Medanta Hospital. To wrest deterioration of his condition doctors put him on the ventilator but the great dribbler slipped into coma on Tuesday. He breathed his last Wednesday.

File Photo: Mohammad Shahid

Shahid worked as the sports officer with the Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi- a unit of the Indian Railways, which was bearing the expenses of his treatment. The centre also announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh to support his treatment.

Known for his mesmerizing dribble and dazzling wrist work, fast and hard push, the former centre forward player made his presence felt at the very first appearance in the 1979 Junior World Cup held in France. The same year he graduated to the senior level and was made part of V Baskaran’s national team. Mohammad Shahid was the member of the hockey team which won an Olympic gold medal in 1980 in the controversial Moscow edition. This was the last hockey gold medal at the Olympics that India won in the game.

Such was his dominance in the Olympic and thereafter in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan that Shahid was chosen for the Arjuna Award in 1980-81. He was also conferred with the Padma Shree in 1986 for his extraordinary performance on the field. In partnership with Zafar Iqbal, Shahid ran like a hare in the field. He was the greatest runner, dribbler and striker of his time. He was part of the team which won silver medal at 1982 Asian Games and was the captain in 1986 when his team won bronze at the Asian Games. Soon, followed his exit from the game.

Many believe that Mohammad Shahid left the game prematurely. He should have continued. Once again, at 56, he left the field early. He should have continued