TAXILA: Former hockey Olympian and legendary goalkeeper Zakir Hussain passed away at Wah Cantt on Monday.

He was 85.

According to the Pakistan Hockey Federation, Zakir was a member of the Pakistan squad during the 1968 Mexico Olympics where he helped the nation clinch the gold medal when stopped Australia from scoring a decisive goal in the final with his face.

Zakir also figured in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, where the Pakistan won a silver medal.

Zakir’s funeral prayers was offered at Wah Cantt.

He left behind two sons and three daughters to mourn his death.

Meanwhile, inr separate messages, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) prisident retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and secretary Asif Bajwa expressed condolences to the bereaved family.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2019