into the blue yonder.. Mohd Shahid RIP.

[mpw]

Sad to learn - Indian hockey wizard - Mohd Shahid is no more.

Maybe its a physical relief to him to be finally free...maybe..

I followed Indian Hockey in the mid 80's

Mohd Shahid
MP Singh
Zafar Iqbal
Hassan sardar - Pakistan

were those whom i would pay money to watch at a stadium ( if i could ).

I still remember the 1985 Champions Trophy in Australia where the indian team was trailing 2-5 with 15 mins to go for the finish and this big burly sardar MP Singh fires in 3 goals into the German goal with such ferocity.... maybe the Bofors guns would be put to shame.

MP Singh played in central defence....

I saw Mohd Shahid run 1 full circle around a German defender ( i hope he finds solace in knowing that he was up against the best dribbler in the world ) and stride towards goal..

That moment will be my most abiding memory of his..

Shine on ... and rest in peace.. maybe god wanted to watch some good hockey up in the blue yonder..

Today i feel i lost some romance from field hockey..

This picture says it all.. the grace.. the forward stride..leaving a totally dismantled opposition in his wake.

:-((

regards

 

[Naturelover]

Absolutely magical, those players. Any followers of hockey who haven't seen them, please do look for recordings. Maybe YouTube might have some.

 

[oracle1974]

Merwyn Fernandes was another player of high calibre in addition to the indian trio.

 

[Sumanta]

Thanks MPW,
And I thought Mumbai knows only one game which is a pure business in the TV world.

By gene (Bong) I love Football more, but respect Hockey even more as I realized how tough the game is while playing some time in Kolkata with friends. We had simple umbrella sticks and tennis ball though.
I love the way dribble could be done in this game, and those wonderful receiving of the ball, aha, simply magical.

 

[oracle1974]

Beighton cup - a tournament held in Kolkata is the oldest tournament in hockey in the world.