Rajya Sabha members pay tribute to hockey legend Shahid

Rajya Sabha member and former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey on Thursday paid tribute to hockey legend and said there are many sports stars whom people have forgotten.

Paying tribute to Mohammed Shahid who died in a Gurgaon hospital on Wednesday, Tirkey said: "I and thousands of youth considered him as a role model. It is sad he is no more with us. I hope government helps the family so that they don't face financial crisis."

"I feel, apart from cricket, there are many games but we are forgetting our stars. We must not forget them. There are many stars who played for the country, won medals, but we have forgotten them," the former star defender added.

Several Rajya Sabha members endorsed Tirkey's statement, with Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien saying, "I think entire house is associating with what you said."

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government bore the expense of Shahid's treatment in the hospital and all possible help will be provided to his family.

--IANS

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