Hockey great Abdul Waheed Khan passes away

Former centre forward was part of team that secured Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic medal at 1960 Rome Games

KARACHI:

Former hockey Olympian Abdul Waheed Khan has passed away at the age of 85 in Karachi.

According to details, Waheed was rushed to hospital after his health deteriorated on Monday morning. However, he breathed his last even before reaching the medical facility. He will be laid to rest on Tuesday.

Waheed played for Pakistan as a centre forward. He was a member of the team that beat India at the 1960 Rome Games final to secure Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic medal. Waheed scored the first goal of the match on that historic day.

He also won gold medal for Pakistan at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo with victory over arch-rivals India in the final. He also represented the Pakistan team that topped the podium at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Waheed also served as coach and manager of the Green-shirts. He was the manager of the team that won the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.

Pakistan Hockey Federation president Brig (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, secretary Olympian Asif Bajwa, KHA secretary Haider Hussain and other former hockey stars expressed their grief over the passing of Waheed and said prayers for him.