Times of India: Rome hockey Olympian Joe Antic hospitalised

MUMBAI: Hockey Olympian Joe Antic has been hospitalised but his condition has improved today, according to family sources.

“He’s unwell and is still in ICU. He was put on oxygen but it is off now. We are hoping he will recover fully,” Antic’s son William, said on Friday.

Antic, 90, represented the country in the 1960 Olympic Games at Rome where Pakistan ended India’s glorious 32-year golden run by winning the final between the arch-foes 1-0.

A centre half, Antic also was part of the hockey squad that finished runner-up to Pakistan in the Asian Games at Jakarta two years later.

According to William, the former international player, who toured East Africa and Europe with the senior team in the late 1950s, had retired from Western Railway.

After his playing days, he took up coaching and was the national coach of the Oman team that took part in the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi.

“He was the Oman national team’s coach for two years,” William said.