LAHORE, Former hockey Olympian and member of the 1994 World Cup winning team Naveed Alam was laid to rest in his native town graveyard in Sheikhupura on Tuesday night.
The 47-year-old former stalwart of hockey who was a skilful master of the game lost his battle with blood cancer on Tuesday morning at Shoukat Khanam hospital.
Naveed Alam who served the game in different roles with pride , distinction and commitment wax diagnosed with blood cancer earlier this month.
The youngest member of 1994 victorious World Cup team underwent chemotherapy at Shaukat Khanum Hospital on Monday night and was shifted to intensive care unit after his health deteriorated.
Naveed Alam , a former agile full back a recipient of “ pride of performance “ was also a former head coach of national hockey team and director development, Pakistan Hockey Federation besides being the founder of his hockey academy in his native town.
Apart from being a former National head coach, Naveed Alam also imparted finer points of the game to the national teams of China and Bangladesh in the role of a coach.
Naveed Alam was a diehard lover of the game and his services for the cause of hockey will always be remembered in country’s hockey history books. He had also the distinction of representing the team on 1996 Olympic.
His funeral prayers offered at company Bagh Sheikhupura were attended by his family members, relatives , friends and a number of former Olympians including Secretary, PHF , Muhammad Asif Bajwa, Manzoor Jr, Khawaja Muhammad Junaid , Danish Kareem and a number of international players, Secretary, Punjab hockey association, Col retd Asif Khokhar, officials of PHF and people belonging to different walks of life.
Both the Punjab and Sindh Goverments have taken the responsibility of bearing the expense of his cancer treatment.
Meanwhile Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza, PHF, Pakistani cricket commentator and a former national captain , Ramiz Raja, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Col (r) Muhammad Asif Zaman, Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimoor Bhatti, DG SBP Adnan Arshad Aulakh, Special Assistant to Sindh Chief Minister on Sports Bangul Khan Mahar and Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah, Punjab Olympic Association, and the entire sports fraternity have expressed their deep grief over the sad demise of national hockey hero Naveed Alam.
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