Hockey fraternity observes 2-minute silence as mark of respect

The hockey fraternity today joined the world in mourning the death of Nelson Mandela by observing two-minute silence before the final two matches in the opening day of the Hero FIH Junior Men's World Cup at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, here today.

As a mark of respect to the departed soul of the former South African president, two-minute silence was observed before the start of South Africa-England and India-Netherlands matches.

Just before the mandatory national anthem ceremony the entire stadium stood up along with the teams, International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Hockey India officials to observe two-minute silence remembering the legendary anti-apartheid leader and Bharat Ratna awardee, Mandela, who passed away in Johannesburg today at the age of 95.
 

Mandela, who led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s and served 27 years in prison for his political activities, had been receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital.