KARACHI: Pakistan legendary radio/television hockey commentator and sports journalist Sheikh Mohammad Naqi, who died here on Saturday night after protract illness, was laid to rest in Hub on Sunday. He was 79.

Naqi, who was awarded President Pride of Performance in 2004 for his meritorious contribution in the field of hockey commentary, was bedridden for the past several years.

His Namaz-e-Janaza was offered at Sultan Masjid in the Defence Housing Authority after Zuhr prayers, which was largely attended by sportsmen, media personals, friends and relatives.

Prominent who attended the funeral prayers included former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Bari and officials of the Karachi Hockey Association and veteran broadcaster Yawar Mehdi of Radio Pakistan and Prof Ejaz Faruqi.

But no prominent Olympian was present nor did the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) issue any official condolence on the demise of Naqi.

Naqi, who remained the secretary general of Pakistan Sports Writers Federation, had the honour of covering as many as nine Olympics including the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Besides playing hockey, Naqi also remained an international hockey umpire and supervised in national hockey championship.

“S.M. Naqi was an iconic figure and contributed greatly as a hockey commentator and sports journalist,” Azeem Sarwar, a renowned broadcaster and presenter of Radio Pakistan who had covered a couple of World Cups abroad with late Naqi, said.

Former Olympian Samiullah Khan, chief selector and NBP Sports chief Iqbal Qasim, former KCCA President Prof Siraj Bukhari have expressed their condolences on the death of Naqi.