Legendary hockey Olympian Brig. Abdul Hamid Hamidi (retired), who led Pakistan to its maiden gold medal victory at Rome Olympics in 1960, was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Bannu town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Thousands of people from different walk of life attended his Nimaz-e-Janaza held at Milat Park, near Hamidi village, District Bannu.
Olympian Hamidi died at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi on Thursday, last. He was 92. The deceased is survived by a widow and two sons - Major Nadeem Hameed and Faheem Hameed. Hamid was lived with his family in Chaklala, was hospitalized two days earlier after health deteriorated and he breathed his last on Thursday, last. He was also the elder brother of another legendary hockey Olympian Abdul Rashid Junior.
Abdul Hamid Hamidi was the only Olympian represented Pakistan at four Olympics - in 1948 at London, 1952 at Helsinki, 1956 at Melbourne and 1960 at Rome. Born on January 7, 1927, Hamidi played as inside right and rose to fame when he skippered the national hockey team to a solitary goal win over arch rivals India, the top and the most dominated team of its time.
Later Hamidi served on many important positions including Director General Pakistan Sports Board, Director General Sports Army Sports Control Board, DG National Sports Trust (NST). Late Brig. Hamidi also served as Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation for some time soon after retiring from Pakistan Army.
Brig. Abdul Hameed (retired) remained in limelight in the game of hockey as part of first Pakistan Contingent in London Olympic 1948 and was captain of Pakistan hockey team winning gold medal in Asian Games 1958 and first ever gold in Rome Olympics 1960 when he scored the only goal against India in the final. Hameed's record of 16 Olympic goals remained a Pakistan record till 2008.
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