Today marks the 15th death anniversary of triple Olympian goalkeeper Shankar Laxman. With two Olympic Gold and a Silver, the Army man did a yeoman service to hockey. This writer did extensive research on the inimitable Shankar Laxman two and half decades ago; and also organized condolence meeting at the historic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi  in 2006.

Shankar Laxman was born on 7th July 1933 and died on 29th April 2006. He was conferred with both Arjuna (sporting excellence) and Padamshree (Civilian Award). Under his captaincy India won its first Asian Games title in 1966; two years ago his heroics gave India the Olympic title at Tokyo (1-0 against Pakistan in the final).

The Pakistan manager AIS Dara, who played the Olympics for India (1936 ) and Pakistan in 1948,  described the Tokyo final as between Pakistan and Shankar Laxman.

An episode that occurred in the greatest goalkeeper will always be etched in our minds, that is, how he missed out his fourth Olympics.

We reproduce what he said once on that matter.

“There has always been dirty politics in the IHF and this time it played dirty with me too. I was not invited for Mexico Olympics trials in 1968. But when the team was selected, both goalkeepers were not equal to the occasion and the Indian team was badly mauled by the Rest of India in a three-match series. The selectors became panicky and asked me to join the team. I refused the invitation, which came four days before the departure of the team, stating that I was not in practice. But the main reason was I did not want to replace a goalkeeper who had already slogged for the team. It would have done him grave injustice”.

True sportsman spirit one can say. 

More about him is available in the link: Shankar Laxman