Pakistan's hockey hero Mansoor Ahmed passes away

Pakistan’s world renowned field hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed passed away after a prolonged illness in Karachi on Saturday. He was 49 years of age.

Mansoor was suffering from complications stemming from a pacemaker and stents implanted in his heart.

He has been a sporting icon in Pakistan since helping the country win the 1994 World Cup in Sydney while brilliantly averting a penalty stroke against the Netherlands in the final.

Mansoor played 338 international matches during a career spanning from 1986 to 2000. He participated in three consecutive World Cups and won the 1994 World Cup Hockey Championship (World Cup).

He won bronze in the 1992 Olympic, silver in 1990 World Cup Hockey Championship and Gold medal in 1994. Played three Asian Games and won gold in 1990 Beijing (China) Games.

Mansoor earned 12 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronzes medals in various international hockey tournaments during his 14-year illustrious career.

He was declared All Asian Stars Hockey Team member in 1996 and also declared World Eleven Hockey team member in 1994. His glories made him rise above the sky by becoming world's best goalkeeper, declared by FIH in 1994. Mansoor stood four times best goalkeeper of the tournament and was the flag carrier of the Pakistani Contingent in 1996 Atlanta (USA) Olympics.

Mansoor was considered the best hockey goalkeeper in the world during the Nineties, also captained the national hockey team on various occasions.

The hockey legend had been suffering from heart ailment for the past three years and was under treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi.

Last month, he had said he wanted his surgery to be done in India as the facilities there were better than those offered in any other country.

He was said to be wary of the surgery in Pakistan as it would be the first of its kind in the country.

Dr Nadeem Qamar of NICVD had said they were ready to perform the surgery on Ahmed, but if he was not comfortable then he could go to India.

He had also reached out to the Indian government for a visa so that he could get the needed treatment.

The namaz-e-janaza of Mansoor Ahmed will be offered after the Zuhr prayers on Sunday, May 13 in DHA Karachi.