Shahid battling for life, Pillay cries for help

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1

Indian hockey's legend Mohammad Shahid has been battling for life in a Gurgaon hospital but neither the government nor his employer, Indian Railways, has come forward to help him in his hour of need. Shahid, a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning team and unarguably the best dribbler of his era, is suffering from a severe liver ailment. He was flown here on Tuesday after the doctors at Varanasi, his hometown, advised specialised treatment.

The 56-year-old had been recuperating from jaundice and dengue in Varanasi before the continuous stomach pain forced his family to fly him down to Gurgaon. The diagnosis revealed that he was suffering from chronic liver disease and the infection had reached his kidneys.

Shahid's family has spent close to Rs 4 lakh on his treatment so far, with no financial help from the government or the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), a body set up by the Railways to promote sports. Even as every passing second is critical for Shahid, RSPB hasn't been able to process the necessary paperwork so far to release financial assistance to him.

On Friday, former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay wrote an emotional letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking help for the 1986 Padma Shri awardee. 

“He has been in the ICU for the last two days but not even a single politician has bothered to enquire about his condition. I appeal to the Prime Minister, the Sports Minister, all sports associations and everyone else to please take note of his condition,” Pillay said.

Apart from the Olympics gold, Shahid also won a silver medal at the 1982 Asian Games and a bronze in the 1986 Asiad.