Pakistani hockey legend Manzoor Junior passes away
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One of Pakistan’s field hockey legend Manzoor Hussain Junior passed away on Monday 29th Of August due to a heart attack. Manzoor was admitted to the hospital on Monday morning, according to his son Faisal, and the physicians tried to rescue him by inserting three heart stents, but they were unable to do so. Manzoor was the chairman of the national selection committee at the time.
Manzoor served as the former captain of the Pakistani hockey team, was an Olympian, and Pakistan’s Olympic hero in 1984 in Los Angeles.
Pakistan’s sole Junior World Cup victory in 1979 was during Manzoor’s tenure as coach. Between 1975 and 1984, which were his greatest years, he scored 86 goals in 175 games for Pakistan and was regarded as one of the best strikers. At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Manzoor took a bronze meda for Pakistan. Later, in 1984, he led the team to an Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles.
When Pakistan won the field hockey World Cups in 1978 and 1982, Manzoor was a member of the winning squad. In the 1982 field hockey World Cup final, he dodged six German defenders to make one of the most spectacular goals of his career. Manzoor also received the Presidential Medal for his contributions to hockey.
Everyone offered their condolences for Manzoor’s passing, and the president and secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, Brigadier (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Haider Hussain, both expressed their profound sorrow. Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his grief over the death of Manzoor.
The gold medallist Manzoor Hussain Junior was beneficial to the country. His work for Pakistan Hockey will always be cherished, tweeted PM Shehbaz. Separately, COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa expressed his sorrow on the death of the legendary hockey player.
Remembering him as his ‘personal friend’, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said: “May Allah bless his soul & give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen.”
