Zafar Iqbal (field hockey)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (August 2006) |
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's field hockey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1980 Moscow | Team | |
Zafar Iqbal is an Indian field hockey player. He played Left Out with Indian blue jersey number 11.
Iqbal hails from a learned family . His father was a learned Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry at Aligarh Muslim University. His elder brother is an accomplished researcher presently working at King saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His sister is an accomplished Doctor, a gynaecologist with exceptionally good academic record at AMU, claiming eleven gold medals and receiving the award from the President of India for being the best woman medical graduate in 1987.
He made valuable contribution for winning the last Olympic Gold Medal for India in Moscow Olympics. He has captained Indian squad in various International events prominent among them being Asian Games, in 1982 and 1983 Champions Trophy and 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He was also chosen to carry flag of Indian Squad at the youth festival held in Moscow later and later the tricolour in the opening ceremony of the 1984 LA Olympics.
Indian hockey had its last glimpse as a world force when Zafar Iqbal and Mohammad Shahid, another Hockey great who played for India in early 80's. They were a deadly combination who could shatter any defence in the world. Sadly Zafar is also remembered for the miss in front of an open West German goal in the crucial match that resulted in a draw and cost India the semifinal spot in the 1984 LA Olympics.
The Latest Bollywood Chartbuster Chak De India starring Shahrukh Khan as the Coach Kabir Khan is primarily inspired by two players of Team India which played against Pakistan in Asian Games 82 Hockey Final at Delhi. The Captain- Zafar Iqbal and the Goal Keeper - Mir Ranjan Negi.
He was awarded the Arjuna Award, the highest award given in sports by India. He has also served in capacity of Chief National Coach for Indian hockey . It was under his Coaching that India played for the Asian Games Held in Korea . India won silver in that tournament.
Born in Bihar he studied civil engineering at Aligarh Muslim University .
From early 1993 to October 1994, he was the hockey coach of Indian team. Zafar currently works as Manager (Civil) in Indian Airlines.
