Mohammed Shahid, Indian hockey Olympic gold medallist, passes away at 56

Ailing Indian ex-hockey player and Olympic gold medalist Mohammed Shahid passed away on Wednesday after a bout of jaundice and dengue. The 56-year-old legend was admitted to Medanta - the Medicity and was airlifted from Varanasi earlier. [caption id=“attachment_2904014” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Indian hockey legend Mohammed Shahid passes away. Firstpost[/caption] “Yes, he is no more. He suffered multiple organ failure this morning. It’s a sad news,” a source told PTI. “He breathed his last at 10:45 this morning. It was multiple organ failure that led to his passing away. He will be taken to Varanasi and last rites will be performed there tomorrow,” Shahid’s son Mohammed Saif told PTI. Known for his dribbling skills, Shahid is considered one of India’s great hockey players. He was a member of the V Baskaran-led Indian team that won a gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He was also a part of the national team that won a silver medal at the Delhi Asian Games in 1982 and bronze in the Seoul Asiad in 1986. The Union Sports minister Dr Jitendra Singh had announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for ailing Olympic gold medallist Mohammed Shahid, who was undergoing treatment for serious liver and kidney ailment at Medanta Medicity in Gurgaon. Earlier, Ex-India hockey player Dhanraj Pillay thanked all authorities who helped Shahid out the best way possible.  Pillay had earlier appealed to the Prime Minster along with other ministries and associations, asking for help for the treatment of the Arjuna award winner who was suffering from chronic liver and kidney problems. “I thank the honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, Sports Minister Shri Jitendra Singh ji, Indian Railways and Railways minister Shri Suresh Prabhu ji and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Akhilesh Yadav ji for their prompt support and assistance to Shahid bhai’s treatment,” Pillay said. (With inputs from agencies)