Olympian-turned-rickshaw driver Muhammad Ashiq passes away in Lahore

Ashiq competed in the Rome Olympics in 1960 and Tokyo Olympics in 1964

KARACHI: Olympic cyclist Muhammad Ashiq, who represented Pakistan in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics passed away on March 11, just six days shy of his 83rd birthday, at a local hospital in Lahore.

Ashiq underwent an operation for gallstones, and according to his son-in-law Muhammad Nadeem he recovered, but then died in the early hours of Sunday.

"He was not well since last year and had an operation in January," Nadeem told The Express Tribune.



"He had been complaining for the last two months that he isn't able to taste the food anymore. He didn't feel like talking anymore. He was in his 80s. It all happened very suddenly. He passed away in late hours of Saturday night and we buried him on Sunday."

Ashiq competed in the Rome Olympics in 1960 in the Men's sprint 1,000m time trial at the age of 25. Four years later, in the Tokyo Olympics, he participated in the individual pursuit 4,000m and team pursuit 4,000m event.

Although he did not win any Olympic medals, Ashiq did win laurels at the Asian Games. He also represented Pakistan Railways at national competitions before retiring from the sport.

In 2016, tech company NetSol made Ashiq a brand ambassador in an effort to inspire the youth of Pakistan. His son-in-law, however, said that in the last couple of months he had not heard anything about NetSol or any other organisation.

"I have been living with Ashiq for a few months now, and no one came," he added.

In the last interview he gave to The Express Tribune, Ashiq said that his only goal in the latter part of his life was to not be a burden on anyone, not even his children. He continued to drive his rickshaw, but it always remained disappointing to him that there exists no policy or facility in Pakistan for sportsmen like him who devote their entire lives to the country.

"I feel like I want to join my wife. She died, and left me all alone here. I quit boxing because she made me and then I picked up cycling", Ashiq had told The Express Tribune in 2016.

"I go out especially on August 14, wearing the green blazer that I got for representing the country. It is to show people that they just can't forget us like that. I wear this green blazer and drive the rickshaw to show people that this is the reality. People and the government do not care about sports personalities," he added further.



"I just tell young people when they sit in my rickshaw for a ride that they shouldn't take up sports. They listen to my story too, I'm happy about that."

This year August 14 will not be the same. It won't be the same because there will be nobody to remind us just how good we are at forgetting our heroes.

Ashiq will not be there driving his rickshaw on the streets of Lahore warning people that unless sports become a priority for the government, our heroes are doomed to a forgotten life of poverty.