ON Dec 7 last Nature picked from amongst us a hockey enthusiast, wizard and great sportsman whose performance remains. unmatched. In him we have lost a great hockey man (aged 80) who left behind a void which it appears to be difficult to fill, if not impossible.

By the time he reached the pinnacle of glory, he had almost all honours in the world of hockey under his belt.

After early school and college education at Gujrat, his insatiable love for hockey took him to Lahore at Government t College where he started climbing the ladder of fame. There was nothing to stop him. He chose army as his profession and rose to become a brigadier. After the fall of Dhaka he became a prisoner of war until repatriated.

He was selected for Punjab University, Pakistan Army, national team for Olympics in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964. Asian Games 1962. Medals that he won were one Olympic gold and two silver, besides one Asian gold medal. He scored 20 goals in Olympics and international matches. As administrator he was manager at three Olympics, one Asia Games and World Cup.

In recognition of his enviable performance the government conferred on him Pride of Performance, Sitara-i-Pakistan and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (M). The International Olympic Committee conferred on him the Olympic Order of Merit, the only Pakistani to get the award. FIH honoured him with `Member of Honour`.

He was secretary of the Asian Hockey Federation 1978-1994; vice president of FIH 1982-2002 and chairman of the Rules Board 1994-2002. He held the fort of the PHF as secretary-general for several years.

In the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent only four persons played in four Olympics, two from Pakistan of which Atif was one.

To commemorate his achievements three references were arranged at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Grief-stricken lovers, some with wet eyes, paid rich tribute. Among the prominent persons who spoke were Air Marshal Nur Khan, Qasim Zia, Tariq Aziz, Kh. Aslam, Munir Dar, Hassan Sardar, Shehnaz Sheikh, Zakauddin, Parveen Atif.

He was manager of the Pakistan team at three Olympics, winning two gold and bronze medals. It was a strange coincidence that when he was manager in 1968 Olympics the captain was no other than Tariq Aziz who played as left full back as Atif did during his heydays.

He is survived by two sons and two daughters. Perveen Atif, his wife, in her own right as a well-known writer and president of the Pakistan Women`s Hockey Association, has a claim to stardom.

Atif was buried at Islamabad in the presence of many of his admirers. May his soul rest in peace. Aamin.

M. ARSHAD CHAUDHRY

University of Agriculture,

Faisalabad