Times of India: Hockey coach Muhammad Imran: Once a hero, now a roadside vendor
GORAKHPUR (UP): After churning out eight international and more than 50 hockey players, this coach is now selling track suits on a bicycle in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district. Muhammad Imran, who has coached Indian Women hockey team vice-captain Nidhi Khullar, used to play for Fertilisation Corporation of India but was forced to become a roadside vendor after the Fertilisation Corporation of India was shut down.
Some of the students of Imran include international players such as Rita Pandey, Rajni Choudhari, Sanjeev Ojha, Pratima Choudhari, Janardan Gupta and Sanvar Ali. In the little time he gets after earning his bread, he spends it training aspiring young hockey players. He gets a pension of Rs 1000 and according to him he is selling clothes on cycle to collect money for his daughter’s wedding.