LAHORE: Pakistan hockey legend and national chief selector Manzoor Hussain Jr passed away due to cardiac arrest here at the local hospital on Monday.

The 63-year-old was laid to rest later in the night after his funeral, which was attended by a number of people belonging to the country’s hockey fraternity.

A day earlier, Manzoor was taken to the hospital following chest pain before his health deteriorated further, resulting in his death. The news of the former Olympian’s passing away came as a shock to the sport’s community.

Manzoor — born in Sialkot in 1958 — bagged 86 goals in 175 outings for Pakistan in his international career that spanned from 1975-84.

Deemed one of the best right full-backs in the world during his playing days, he led the national side to a gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Manzoor’s stick work, particularly how he used it dodge past defenders, was a treat to watch for hockey enthusiasts. He was part of the Pakistan sides which won gold medals in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, 1978 and 1982 Asian Games, the 1982 Asia Cup and the 1978 and 1980 Champions Trophy events. Manzoor also captained Pakistan to gold medal honours in the 1979 Junior World Cup.

Manzoor was also decorated with Pride of Performance award in 1984. He took charge as the national side’s chief selector earlier this year before quitting from the post last month in protest after Pakistan Hockey Federation president Khalid Sajjad Khokhar instructed him to become the national junior team manager.

Manzoor, however, was restored to his previous role and selected the senior squad that took part in the Common­wealth Games earlier this month.

Khokhar, along with PHF secretary Haider Hussain, former Olympians Samiullah Khan, Hasan Sardar, Shahnaz Shekh, Khalid Hameed, Tauqir Dar and Manzoor-ul-Hasan expressed condolences over his demise.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, president Pakistan Olympic Association Lt. Gen. (retd.) Arif Hasan and secretary POA Khalid Mahmood also expressed condolences.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2022