LAHORE: Former hockey Olympian Asad Malik, who died in a road accident on Monday, was laid to rest in his native town of Sheikhupura, some 30 kilometre away from here on Tuesday.

Asad, a big name in hockey, was travelling with his daughter on a motor bicycle when he met with a road accident. While Asad died on the spot, his daughter has been hospitalized in Lahore. She is in critical condition.

Asad was the eldest in a family which has produced four Olympians. Besides Asad himself, his younger brother Saeed Anwar, nephews Anjum Saeed and Naeem Amjad have all played for Pakistan which is a rare honour indeed.

He was the part of the Pakistan team which earned the silver medal in Olympics in 1964 and captained the gold medal winning team in 1968. Asad also scored the winner against Australia in the final to make it 2-1. He also represented Pakistan in the 1972 Olympics where Pakistan lost the final to West Germany in a controversial manner to bag the silver medal. Asad also represented Pakistan in the World Cups in 1971 and 1973.

An inside left, he also played for Pakistan in three Asian Games held in 1962 (gold), 1966 (silver) and 1970 (gold).

He was decorated with the Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1969.

Asad’s death was widely condoled in the sports circle.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation president Brig. (retd.) Sajjad Khokhar, secretary Asif Bajwa, former hockey Olympians Akhtar Rasool Ch. Islahuddin Siddiqi, Samiullah, Kaleemullah, Khawaja Junaid, Salim Nazim and provincial sports minister Rai Taimur Khan Bhatti condoled the sad demise of Asad Malik.

They acknowledged his tremendous services for hockey and in their messages they prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.

Sports circles in Karachi too condoled Asad’s death including KHA president Dr Junaid Ali Shah, secretary Haider Hussain, Olympians Hanif Khan and Qamar Ibrahim, KBBA’s Ghulam Mohammad, PTF’s Khalid Shamsi and Mohammad Arshad of Yoga Federation.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2020