LAHORE: Former hockey Olympian and international athlete Khawaja Muhammad Aslam, father of another Olympian Khawaja Junaid, died here on Tuesday at the age of 97. He has been laid to rest at a local graveyard.

Aslam was born in 1922. He represented Pakistan as an athlete in the 1954 Asian Games and bagged silver in the 200-metre race. Earlier, he also represented Pakistan in the Summer Olympics 1952 in Helsinki and competed in the 100-metre and 200-metre events as well as men’s 4x100 metres relay. Aslam also finished fifth in the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in the 4x110 yards relay.

Later, Aslam turned to hockey and found a place in the Pakistan team. He took part in the Asian Games 1962 and earned a gold medal. Khawaja Aslam had great affiliation with sports as he had also played first-class cricket.

Aslam served the Athletics Federation of Pakistan as secretary general. He was also author of a dozen books on sports, history and culture.

Former Olympians Tariq Aziz, Manzoor Junior, Saleem Nazim, Khalid Bashir and former secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation retired Brig Mussaratullah Khan attended his funeral along with many other sports personalities. The Pakistan Hockey Federation, Pakistan Olympic Association, Sports Board Punjab and the Pakistan Athletics Federation expre­ssed condolence over the passing away of the great sportsman.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2019