Shahid Ali Khan - Pakistan Hockey Goalkeeper

->prominent hockey goal keeper when Indian Junior
Shahid Ali khan ( Born: December 16, 1964 ) is a retiredhockey team visited Pakistan in Feb 1982. He has won
field hockey goalkeeper from Pakistan, who latermany gold medals in various competitions. He has
became the Pakistan's goal keeping coach. Shahid Aliseven silver medals and three bronze medals to his
khan represented Pakistan for about twelve yearscredit and he was rated as the goal keeper of highest
from 1981 to 1993. From 1986 to 1989 he was droppedclass. Some of his shows have helped Pakistan in
from the side because of his poor form. He made hiswinning vital matches in the International competitions.
comeback because of his absolute firmness ofRecognizing his outstanding performance he was
courage and was able to succeed Mansoor who wasawarded the Presidents' pride of Performance medal
the number one custodian in the year 1990. His greatin the year 1993.
match temperament helped him once again toThe concept of a goalkeeper coach in field hockey
become the goal keeper for the Pakistan Hockeyhas been the trend these days because it is more
team. His memorable performance of stopping aimportant to provide expert guidance to the goal
Dutch penalty stroke in 1982 world cup semifinals at hiskeeper to improve technical performance. He has
age of 17 that too in his second international matchbeen the goal keeper coach for Pakistan because
was commendable.goal keepers play a very important role. He insisted the
During Shahid Ali Khan's days because of the fast andgoal keeper to come forward and attack during
true synthetic surf, attempts and attacks on the goalpenalty corners unlike the European method of staying
was more. Shahid Ali Khan (Weight 60kg, Height 5.7)back. He is a strong believer of home coaches than
played about 135 matches and he was considered asforeign coaches for the Pakistan hockey team. He felt
one of the best goalkeepers of field hockey. He wasthat the foreign coaches will find it difficult in local
one of the players of Pakistan Hockey team that wonconditions and communication will become a major
the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angelesproblem.
California. He was also responsible for winning aPakistan's goal keeper coach Shahid Ali Khan
bronze medal in Barcelona, Spain in the year 1982successfully turned Khairul Nizam the Pakistan
when he was just 18 years old.goalkeeper who was not moving between the posts
In earlier days Pakistan goal keeping was consideredand changed him to a more flexible and reliable
as the weakest, there was no technical perfection andgoalkeeper. When he was appointed as Malaysia
their performance was purely based on their couragehockey team's goalkeeper coach he improved
and bravery. Shahid Ali Khan was one of thoseMalaysia goalkeeper Kumar's performance. Kumar
technically perfect goal keepers like Mansoor Ahmedand Shahid Ali Khan had a wonderful understanding
and Saleem Sherwani. Shahid Ali Khan became awhich is incomparable.