Tag Archives: Mohammad Shahid

10 Muslim Faces in Indian Sports after Independence

Amazing Feats, Leaders, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

INDIA :

Indian Muslim sportspersons

New Delhi :

After the partition and independence of India, the contribution of Muslim faces in Indian sports is a fascinating story. It also sends a clear message that, despite the communal division of the country, all avenues remained open for Muslims in India. The nation saluted talent, not religion. The contribution of Muslims in the field of sports should be the subject of a dedicated book.

However, in this article, we present the 10 most successful Muslim sportspersons of India.

Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan

Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan

Cricket, the most popular sport in the country, has a long list of Muslim players like Ghulam Ahmed, Salim Durani, Abbas Ali Baig, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Farooq Engineer, Syed Abid Ali, Syed Mustafa Hussain, Syed Kirmani, Ghulam Ahmed Hassan, Mohammad Azharuddin, Arshad Ayub, Zaheer Khan, Syed Saba Karim, Mohammad Kaif, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Wasim Jaffer, Yusuf Pathan, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, and Sarfaraz Khan.

However, one of the initial cricketers, who happened to be a Muslim and shone like a star, was Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan, known as “Tiger Pataudi”. He became the youngest Test captain in the history of the game. He represented India in 46 Tests and scored 2793 runs.

In March 1962, he became the youngest Test captain at the age of 21 years and 77 days against the West Indies. His notable achievements include leading India to their first overseas Test match victory in New Zealand in 1968, which was also their first overseas Test series win.

Despite losing vision in his right eye in a car accident in England in 1961, Pataudi proved his mettle on the cricket field. Even today, Tiger Pataudi commands the same respect and popularity in Indian cricket as he did in the past.

Mohammad Azharuddin

Mohammad Azharuddin

Another Muslim cricketer, Mohammad Azharuddin, nicknamed “Indian cricket’s wonder boy,” earned this title right at the beginning of his Test career. In his debut series against England in 1984, he scored three consecutive centuries — a feat yet to be repeated.

Azharuddin played 99 Tests and 334 One Day Internationals for India. As captain, he led the team to victory in the 1990-91 and 1995 Asia Cups and reached the semi-finals of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He captained India in three Cricket World Cups during the 1990s, which remains a record.

Syed Shahid Hakim

Syed Shahid Hakim receiving award from President Ram Nath Kovind

Once, India was a contender for the top slot in the World Cup Football and the Olympics. Though the situation has deteriorated, the list of Muslim footballers Taj Mohammad, Ahmed Khan, Yusuf Khan, B.P. Saleh, Syed Naeemuddin, Noor Mohammad, Rahmat, T. Abdur Rahman, Mohammad Habib, Mohammad Akbar, and Latifuddin come to the fore.

However, Syed Shahid Hakim comes across as one of the brightest and enduring football player of the post-independent India. He is son of Syed Abdul Rahim, who was once the coach of Indian Football team. A former Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force, S.S. Hakim’s international career highlight was the 1960 Rome Olympics. Although India didn’t progress beyond the group stage, a 1-1 draw against France was nothing short of a feat.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Hakim turned to coaching and later served as an assistant coach of the Indian national team. He was also a FIFA referee and officiated in the 1988 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar.

Mohammad Shahid

Mohammad Shahid

In Hockey, a sport once dominated by India, several Muslim players made a mark on the game, including Akhtar Hussain, Aslam Sher Khan, Mohammad Shahid, and Zafar Iqbal.

Among them, Mohammad Shahid from Banaras earned the most fame. His wizardry in the 1970s and 80s — marked by agility and magical dribbling — turned him into a star at a very young age.

He was part of the team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, silver in the 1982 Asian Games, and bronze in the 1986 Asian Games. He also played in the 1981-82 World Cup, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and the 1988 Seoul Games. He captained the Indian team during 1985-86 and announced his retirement from international hockey in January 1989.

Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza is the only Indian woman to break into the top 100 in singles and later became World No. 1 in doubles in Tennis. She won six Grand Slam titles — three in women’s doubles and three in mixed doubles.

Between 2003 and her singles retirement in 2013, she won 43 titles and spent 91 weeks as World No. 1 in doubles. Sania also won 14 medals (including six golds) in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Afro-Asian Games. In 2007, she achieved her career-high singles ranking of 27, the highest ever for an Indian woman. In April 2015, she became the World No. 1 in WTA doubles rankings — the first Indian to reach the top.

Syed Modi

Syed Modi

In Badminton, Syed Modi has been the most successful and popular Muslim player. He is regarded as one of the most successful Indian badminton players, winning the National Championship eight consecutive times from 1980 to 1987 — a historic feat.

He also won a gold medal in men’s singles at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games and international titles such as the Austria International (1983 & 1984) and the USSR International (1985). In 1988, Syed Modi was tragically shot dead in Lucknow.

Nikhat Zareen

Nikhat Zareen

Nikhat Zareen is the shining star of Indian women’s Boxing. Nikhat became a boxing sensation after winning gold at the 2011 Women’s Junior and Youth World Boxing Championships. She won silver at the 2019 Asian Championships in Bangkok, gold at the 2022 World Championships in Istanbul, and gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

In 2023, she won another gold at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship in New Delhi, becoming only the second Indian woman to achieve the feat twice. She also won bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and secured a quota for India at the Paris Olympics, where she reached the Round of 16 in 2024.

Shama Parveen

Shama Parveen

Indian men and women have dominated Kabaddi in the world. Among Muslim women, the most prominent name Kabaddi layer is Shama Parveen from Bihar, who began her career in 2008.

She has won several honors at different levels. She was part of the Indian team that won gold at the 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championship.

Nasreen Sheikh

Nasreen Sheikh

Nasreen Sheikh of Delhi captained the Indian women’s kho-kho team and became the second player in this sport to receive the Arjuna Award. She led the Indian women’s team in the South Asian Games, where India won gold. She was also part of the Indian team that won the inaugural Kho-Kho World Cup held in January 2025 in New Delhi.

India defeated South Korea, Iran, and Malaysia in the group stage, beat Bangladesh in the quarterfinals, South Africa in the semifinals, and thrashed Nepal 78-40 in the final. For her performance, she was awarded the

Alisha Abdullah

Alisha Abdullah

In Motorsports, Alisha Abdullah stands out among women. Alisha, known as India’s fastest car racer and the country’s first female bike racing champion, was born in Chennai in 1989. She was passionate about racing from a young age. In 2004, she ranked among the top five in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship. With her father’s support, she transitioned from car to bike racing.

However, after a serious accident in 2010 while riding a bike, she returned to car racing. She is the first female motorsports star in the country to receive a Presidential Award.

In Motorsports, Alisha Abdullah stands out among women. Alisha, known as India’s fastest car racer and the country’s first female bike racing champion, was born in Chennai in 1989. She was passionate about racing from a young age. In 2004, she ranked among the top five in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship. With her father’s support, she transitioned from car to bike racing.

However, after a serious accident in 2010 while riding a bike, she returned to car racing. She is the first female motorsports star in the country to receive a Presidential Award.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> The Changemakers / by Aasha Khosa, ATV / August 06th, 2025

Dr Sarfaraz and family quietly changing lives of poor in Noida

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Education, FREE : Food, FREE : Healthcare / Assistance, , , , , , , , , ,

Noida, UTTAR PRADESH:

Dr. Sarfaraz serving the people

It is not rare to find Muslims doing social work silently, unwilling to promote themselves. One such person is Dr. Sarfarazuddin, a homeopath who lives in sector 105, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

He has been feeding 100 deprived people every day for the past five years and teaches students free. He brings ill and unknown covid-dead patients home bathes and buries them, all by himself, and even marries off daughters of destitute families.

Dr. Sarfaraz, as he is popularly known, does good work at various levels. He has been feeding one meal (lunch) to 100 deprived daily for the last five years. He made that arrangement in a school he had opened in 2009 for the underprivileged children in a village nearby called Gejha, with his own money.

The school has 20 rooms on two floors. The students, who have lost either of their parents or are orphans, bright and have more siblings, children of domestic helpers, daily wagers, guards, gardeners, sweepers, etc., study free of charge here.

Others pay a nominal fee. Out of a total of 400 students, most are non-Muslims while some 40 of them are from nearby madrasas. He has recently gathered these students of madrasas of Gejha who had no modern education, to his school, taught them the basics of modern education, computer trained them, and brought them to par with students of 8th standard in his MM School (UP Board) so that they can take board exams and choose competitive subjects later; engineering, medicine to administrative.

dr.sarfaraz
Dr.Sarfaraz with his patients 

Additionally, he has also started coaching students who want to play volleyball. It keeps them fit and if some of them play well, he says, they would be sent to state and national level competitions.

These children are both from the madrasas and nearby government schools which have no space or free coaches. 100 such students take coaching in different sessions, most of them, non-Muslim. Dr Sarfaraz distributes food to the underprivileged A beneficiary and volleyball coach,20-year-old Vishal swears by the good work Sarfaraz does.

He says, “My father is a daily wager and mother, a domestic help. I needed money to keep my studies and training going. So I offered to coach the students at his school and he readily agreed. Now I coach 100 students who don’t pay any fee, but I get a good payment from Sarfaraz Sir. I have played at the state and national levels. I would be sponsored by him separately if I could play more.”

He also says that Sarfaraz never charges him for medicines he takes for his mother, siblings, and extended family quite often. Sarfaraz also treats the disadvantaged of the area free of cost at his clinic in Gejha on alternate Saturdays and Sundays. He also gives them free medicines. Additionally, he has been regularly holding medical camps for underprivileged patients. During the Covid and lockdown period, he used to get some 200 to 250. The camp had to be stopped “for lack of funds for a few months”. It is difficult to make this man of few words speak about himself. But with an assurance that it might inspire more people, he got ready to share why and how he wishes to give his “entire life for khidmat-e-khalq” (serving people).

“I was always interested in social service as I used to observe my father, principal of a government school in UP, doing social work passionately. So it is integrated into my system. I started serving alongside my father by shifting my clinic from Bhangel to Gejha.”

On how he manages funds, he says, “I do it despite being in deficit. We get things on credit and clear the older dues and take new ones on credit again. Apart from spending from my pocket, I have a small circle of friends who support me on a regular or irregular basis. Some help comes from unknown sources at times.” Of late, apart from his homoeopathy clinic, he has also been running a small medical centre which takes care of some of the expenses for the good work.

Sarfaraz shares why he multiplied his charity work after he saw migrant labourers walking home barefoot, hungry and sick from Noida Expressway during the lockdown. “It was painful to see them. I bought whatever I saw on the road – the entire the of bananas, other fruits, biscuits, called some maulanas from nearby madrasas, and other people and we all stood on the road to feed these labourers day and night for several days. This made me think that I was still not doing enough for the underprivileged.”

Rajesh Yadav, a beneficiary, vouches for the help he has had from Sarfaraz. He says, “I live in sector 45 which is far from here. During the entire covenant lockdown period, my whole family could survive because he used to distribute food twice daily. I have seen him running behind buses and trucks full of labourers etc., to distribute food. He also offered me to make food for his beneficiaries because I am a halwai (sweet maker) by profession. During covid period and lockdown for two years, all the shutters were down, and only my work was sustained all thanks to him. He also never stopped my payment and helped me financially whenever I asked. He never treats me differently because I am a non-Muslim. Now I understand how political leaders divide us,” he gets emotionally charged.

After having felt that he was doing too little during covid, he alternatively kept on helping deprived families marry off their daughters. He even brought home several patients who died in covid when their families had either refused to take their bodies, were far off or they had no one left in the family. He gave them ghusl (bathed) and buried them in a nearby graveyard with his own hands without ever asking for their names, or contact details or expecting anything in return.

Mohammad Shahid, a transporter by profession, vouches for the work he does. He shares, “I shifted to Noida in 2008. Since then I am witnessing Sarfarazbhai working relentlessly for the poor. In my view, the two biggest things he has done are, bringing the dead from several societies nearby to his home (in case they have no one to perform the last rituals), getting them ghusl, and having them buried with respect. He did it during covid and is still doing it. Also, this deserted area had no graveyard for the Muslims. This was a great problem as other graveyards wouldn’t let us bury our dead due to overcrowding.

sarfaraz
Coach Vishal with his students

Coach Vishal Yadav with students he coaches in Volleyball Dr sahib fought tooth and nail with a known builder who tried capturing the graveyard land for erecting a skyscraper in consonance with some greedy Muslims of the area and finally was able to retain around 2 acres of the graveyard. Dr Sarfaraz has helped the Muslims in and around Noida Expressway a great deal by building the only graveyard. I am also aware of his other charity work and can vouch for the fact that not even established NGOs with tonnes of money, don’t do the kind of work I have seen him doing.”

Sarfaraz’s family, consisting of a spouse and three children, he says, “often get anxious for it keeps him overtly busy, but they keep on supporting. Knowing this will never change, it is becoming a part of their system too,” he smiles. Agrees his wife Shaheen, however, adding that khidmat e khalq has been a part of her upbringing too.

“My father a school teacher who also has a family business of transport would always make sure that at least 20 deprived people ate at our home every day, at AaliGaon near Badapur Delhi, where we lived. I remember all the humble families used to have tea and breakfast at our home daily. After marriage, I found that Dr.Sarfaraz seemed to have gone a step further. Even while we were all suffering from covid, he used to leave home to help those in need in the wee hours of the morning.

She adds laughing, “the excuse he would give us was, I don’t see you guys offering fajr (morning) prayer. It depresses me so I go to the mosque nearby to offer mine.” Shaheen also adds that their children have imbibed this habit naturally.

Her young daughters, Sana and Saba, textile and product designers respectively, have started keeping 2.5 percent separate as zakat from their little earnings or pocket money. She also recalls a recent incident about her son, 14-year-old Asad, who wanted to eat delicious biryani sold every Friday near Gejha mosque.

“He asked for money but he came back empty-handed and hungry. I asked him why he didn’t eat biryani. He replied, as he started from home, two old women asked for some money. He gave them all and came back. He remained hungry to feed them. So, it runs in the family,” she says with a contented smile. Did anyone say, charity begins at home?

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Rana Siddiqui Zaman / posted by Shaista Fatima / February 17th, 2023

HOCKEY – Hope and support for Mohd. Shahid

Sports, , , ,

Varanasi, UTTAR PRADESH :

New Delhi :

A stinging comment by former India captain Dhanraj Pillay and a sustained effort by friends in the hockey fraternity as well as the media has raised a ray of hope for the ailing Mohammad Shahid.

The hockey legend is battling liver and kidney-related issues at a private hospital in Gurgaon, with no assistance coming from any quarter until the Union Sports Ministry stepped in on Friday.

According to Sports Ministry sources, Shahid will be provided the best medical help. “The quantum of the financial assistance will depend on the report provided by the hospital,” said the source.

Railways to fund expenses

The Indian Railways, for whom Shahid played in National competitions, said it would take care of his medical expenses. “The formalities and paperwork are complete. Shahid’s full treatment will be taken care of by the Indian Railways,” said a senior source in the RSPB.

Earlier, Dhanraj had pleaded with the Prime Minister to intervene. “I appeal to our honourable Prime Minister, Sports Minister, all sports associations and everyone else to please take note of Shahid bhai’scondition and provide all help possible. We are also trying to mobilise all support from our end,” he said.

“He is a legend, an icon, and someone who made India proud internationally. Indian hockey was known all over the world because of players like him,” said Dhanraj.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Hockey / by Vijay Lokpally / New Delhi – July 02nd, 2016

Yesteryear hockey star Shahid hospitalised

Sports, World Opinion, , ,

Varanasi , UTTAR PRADESH :

Mohammad Shahid
Mohammad Shahid

New Delhi :

He had been ailing for some time and was taken to a local hospital where his condition did not show any signs of improvement.

Mohammad Shahid, hockey star of yesteryear, was admitted to a private hospital in Gurgaon on Wednesday for liver treatment which was not available in Varanasi, his home town.

Shahid had been ailing for some time and was taken to a local hospital where his condition did not show any signs of improvement.

According to sources close to the hockey player, he was treated for dengue and jaundice but Shahid complained of restlessness and was promptly advised dedicated treatment of a higher quality in Delhi and was flown in on Wednesday.

With swelling in his legs and acute stomach pain, Shahid, who would once leave opposition defenders chasing his shadow, was not even able to walk on his own. He reportedly presented a pitiable sight and his physical state left many of his admirers in tears.

Known for his exceptional dribbling skills, Shahid had been hurt by the hockey world shutting him out from all schemes. He was hardly involved by his employer — Railways — for any coaching assignment related with the game and that had left the hockey great disillusioned.

True to his nature, Shahid refrained from blaming anyone for his condition and preferred spending his life in solitude. Hockey, needless to say, stayed close to his heart always.

Shahid’s former teammate Zafar Iqbal promised all help. “I am saddened to know about his condition. I will visit him (on Thursday) and offer all possible support from the hockey fraternity,” said Zafar.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Hockey / Vijay Lokapally / New Delhi – June 30th, 2016