Gulf Today

Pakistan hockey hero seeks heart transplant in India

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KARACHI: Pakistan’s World Cup winning field Hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed on Monday reached out to India for help in securing a heart transplant -- despite years of breaking his rivals’ “hearts on the ield”.

The 49- year-old has been suffering for weeks from complicati­ons stemming from a pacemaker and stents implanted in his heart.

Ahmed has been a sporting icon in Pakistan since helping the country win the 1994 World Cup in Sydney with his penalty stroke push against the Netherland­s in the final.

“I may have broken a lot of Indian hearts on the field of play by beating India in the Indira Gandhi Cup (1989) and in other events but that was sport,” Ahmed told AFP.

“Now I need a heart transplant in India and for that I need support from the Indian government.”

India-pakistan ties, including sports and cultural contacts, plummeted after the 2008 militant attacks in Mumbai, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistani militant groups.

Despite the strained ties, Pakistanis are eligible to apply for medical visas to India, renowned for its booming medical tourism industry.

Ahmed -- who played 338 internatio­nal matches, participat­ed in three Olympics and various other high- profile events in a career spanning from 1986 to 2000 -- said the visa could be a lifesaver.

“Humanity is paramount and I too would be obliged if I get a visa and other help in India” said Ahmed.

Sport has been one of the few a venues to improve relations between the arch-rivals, he added.

“We have had a great rivalry and sports have helped on a number of occasions so that should continue,” said Ahmed. India has suspended most bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan since 2008, with high-profile cricket tours bearing the brunt of the moratorium. they have, however, continued to play each other in multinatio­nal events like the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Hockey India named 61 players for the senior women national coaching camp.

The 61-member group, which features all the 18 players of the Gold Coast Commonweal­th Games squad, was picked on the basis their recent performanc­es in tournament­s that include the Hockey India Senior Women National Championsh­ip.

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