April 21, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1429

MIANWALI, April 20: Renowned former Hockey Olympian Tariq Niazi (68) passed away on Sunday morning at Rawalpindi.

Niazi, who died of cardiac arrest, represented Pakistan from 1961 to 1969, which includes the 1964 Tokyo Olympics where the team won a silver medal and the 1968 Mexico Olympics where they bagged gold, along with many other international tournaments including the Asian Games.

Besides playing for the national side, he also served PIA and represented the department in many national championships until his retirement. He also served as the manager and coach of the national team on various occasions.

Sometime back, Mianwali’s municipal hockey stadium was also renamed as Tariq Niazi Hockey Stadium.

Tariq Niazi, who leaves behind a widow, four daughters and a son, was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Mianwali on Sunday evening.