Hockey Olympian Mohammed Shahid’s widow threatens with award wapsi

New Delhi: Mohammed Shahid, one of the legendary hockey players and part of the Indian hockey team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, passed away in 2016 at a Gurgaon hospital owing to a severe liver condition and kidney failure at the age of 56.

Mohammad Shahid received the Arjuna Award in 1981 and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1986. However, disappointed with government’s promises which is not fulfilled yet, his wife Parveen on Tuesday said she would return his Padma Shri, Arjuna and other awards, if it did not fulfill the promises made after his death. She accused the Centre of not keeping its word.

According to a HT report, Parveen said several people, including ministers, visited her place after her husband’s death. Ram Sakal Gurjar, sports minister in the previous SP government, promised a national tournament would be organised in Shahid’s name every year, she said.

“My financial condition is not so strong that I can afford to sponsor or organise a tournament at the local, district or state level. If the government doesn’t fulfill the promises made after his death, I will return Shahid’s awards, including Padma Shri and Arjun Award,” she said.

Siasat Web Team