Mohammed Shahid, Indian field hockey player

Mohammed Shahid (14 April 1960 – 20 July 2016) was an Indian field hockey player. He is considered one of India's best to have played the game and was known for his dribbling skills. He was a member of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. He was awarded Arjuna Award in 1980–1981 and Padma Shri in 1986.

Career

Mohammed Shahid was born on 14 April 1960 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He made his first appearance for India in the junior team in 1979 at the Junior World Cup in France. Shahid made his first senior team appearance 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.
During his playing days, Shahid was known for his running ability, dribbling of the ball and push which was as fast as a hard hit. His attacking partnership on the field with Zafar Iqbal was well known.
"Zafar at left-out and Shahid at right-in positions penetrated the best of the defences around the world with their superb understanding and passing of the ball. Zafar also pointed that Shahid was instrumental in the V. Baskaran-led India winning the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics Games. “Shahid played a crucial role for India in that Olympics, otherwise we would have been difficulty,” Zafar, who was part of that team, pointed."
He was awarded the 'Best Forward player' at the 1980 Champions Trophy in Karachi. He was a member of the team that won the gold at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, silver at the 1982 Asian Games and bronze at the 1986 Asian Games. He also played in the World Cup in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1981–82, the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 and the Seoul Games in 1988.
His skill and ability at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games earned him a place in the Asian All-Star team in 1986. He captained the Indian team during 1985–86.
Mohammed Shahid had 6 brothers and three sisters (he was the youngest brother), and his father ran a small hotel in Ardali Bazar area of Varanasi. He married Parvin in 1990, and had twins (a son, Saif and a daughter, Hina) from the marriage.

Awards and Recognition

Arjuna Award (1980–81)
Padma Shri (1986)

Death

In June 2016, Shahid was admitted to Medanta hospital, Gurugram when he was suffering from a serious liver disease. He was airlifted from Varanasi to Gurugram after ignoring a bout of jaundice. His condition continued to deteriorate with weakening liver and kidneys.
He died on 20th July 2016 in Gurugram.