Ex-Pakistan hockey team captain Mansoor passes away

Karachi May 12 (IANS) Pakistans former star hockey goalkeeper and captain Mansoor Ahmed passed away at a city hospital due to heart failure on Saturday. He was 49.

Mansoor who played for the country from 1986 to 2000 was a member of the Pakistan team that won gold at the 1994 World Cup in Sydney. He also won a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympic Games.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Brigadier (rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Secretary General Shahbaz Ahmad have expressed their grief over the passing away of the legendary goal-keeper.

"President and the Secretary General prayed to Almighty Allah to bless the departed soul with eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss " a PHF statement read.

Mansoor a three-time Olympian was suffering from heart ailment for the last three years. He had earlier also appealed to the Indian government to issue him the necessary visa to travel to Chennai for heart transplant.

Mansoor appeared in 338 internationals between 1986 and 2000. He also played three Asian Games and won gold in 1990 edition.

--IANS
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