NEW DELHI: The former Indian hockey skipper, Mohammed Shahid, says that the “humiliation he had to go through at the Seoul Olympics” was a main reason for his retirement.
“My biggest disappointment was that I was taken to Seoul only to bet 15 to 20 minutes of play in some matches,” he said
On his return home, he said, the chief coach gave him a statement to the effect that “I had asked him not to be considered for the team again,” I have done no such thing.”
Shahid then emphasized: “I have made it clear. I will play hockey, but I am never ‘again going to play for India.
He said he could still play better than many players on the national team, Shahid said he was surprised to hear that he was unfit for the Seoul Olympics. “If 1 was indeed unfit,” he said, “then suspends the doctor who passed me. This would mean everybody was deceived.
“This game is such that by including Shahid and Pargat Singh you don’t win matches. Until the 11 players coach and manager are together and there is a better balance between them, the team can never win.”
Article extracted from this publication >> February 17, 1989
