This story is from August 28, 2017

Oldest football Olympian Ahmed Khan no more

Ahmed Khan, one of India's most gifted strikers and the country's oldest football Olympian, breathed his last at his residence here on Sunday. He was 90.
Oldest football Olympian Ahmed Khan no more
BENGALURU: Ahmed Khan, one of India's most gifted strikers and the country's oldest football Olympian, breathed his last at his residence here on Sunday. He was 90.
In a newly-independent India, Ahmed was part of the legendary 'barefoot' squad that made its debut in Olympic football at the 1948 London Games. Ahmed, who used to play in the inside-left position, sparkled in their opening-round match against France, where the Indian team comprising stars such as Sailen Manna, Talimeren Ao, BN Vajravelu and Sarangapani Raman fought bravely but suffered a close 1-2 loss and were eliminated.
Ahmed's impeccable ball control and intelligent runs into the box caught the attention of rival coaches and players alike and earned him the nickname 'Snake Charmer'.
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India's withdrawal from the 1950 World Cup in Brazil two years later would remain Ahmed's biggest regret. Based on their impressive performances in world football, FIFA had invited India to be part of the sport's biggest quadrennial tournament and were clubbed along with former champions Italy, Paraguay and Sweden in the group stage.
However, in an era where the Olympics and the Asian Games held more importance in India than the World Cup, India refused to send their squad. The reasons were varying - travel costs, team selection issues and lack of practice time - but what became part of football folklore was that Indians agreed to play only barefoot, which was strictly against FIFA rules.
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Ahmed's impressive form earned the faith of coach Syed Abdul Rahim, who drafted him into the squad for the 1951 Asian Games, where India won the gold. The following year at the Helsinki Olympics, Yugoslavia thrashed India 10-1 in the tournament opener, with Ahmed scoring the consolation strike.

Born into one of Bengaluru's renowned football families, Ahmed was the eldest of four brothers - Latheef, Amjad and Sarmad - and began his professional career playing with his father, Mehmood 'Baba' Khan, while at Bangalore Crescents. Training under his maternal uncle Fazlulla, Ahmed then went on to join Bangalore Muslims and starred in a couple of stellar seasons with them, which included their famous Rovers Cup victory in 1948, where they defeated Mohun Bagan in the final.
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Ahmed, however, will always be remembered for his time with East Bengal. He joined the Kolkata giants in 1949 and subsequently became a club legend. His combination with wingers Pansanttom Venkatesh and PB Saleh, along with strikers Apparao and KP Dhanraj in a five-man attacking formation for the Red and Golds gave them the moniker the 'Panch Pandavas' of Indian football. Guiding the club to its first treble (League, Shield & Rovers) in 1949, a historic Durand Cup and IFA Shield double in 1951, followed by several seasons of fine performances saw East Bengal name Ahmed the 'Forward of the Millennium'.
"Actor Dilip Kumar was a big football fan and Ahmed was one of his favourite players," his brother Amjad recalled on Sunday. "Whenever he was in Kolkata, he used to come to meet my brother."
In 1949, Ahmed was part of the East Bengal and IFA XI teams that played a couple of exhibition games with Sweden's 1948 Olympics gold-winning side during the latter's tour of Asia. "They came to Calcutta and lost. The Sweden manager said: 'We've beaten every team in Asia but we were beaten by Ahmed Khan'. They gave him a silver plaque, which is still there in my brother's house," Amjad said.
After East Bengal, Ahmed had a brief stint with Mohammedan Sporting till 1961. Then he returned to Bengaluru to play for LRDE and subsequently retire. "He was truly a legend, someone who we all looked up to," 1962 Asiad gold-winning football legend Arumainayagam said. "His football was magical. It's a huge loss for Indian football."
Caption: File photo of Ahmed Khan at his residence in Bengaluru
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