Dehradun: Legendary Indian footballer Amar Bahadur Gurung, who scored the bronze medal winning goal for India against Japan at the 1970 Jakarta Asian Games, passed away at Medanta Hospital in Delhi on Wednesday. Fondly called ‘Amar Dai’ by friends, this footballer from the Doon valley brought laurels for the country though his outstanding sporting skills.
Born on 18 April 1942 in Dehradun, Amar Bahadur studied at the Gorkha Military School. He joined the 4/8 Gorkha Rifles in 1960 and quit Army service in 1967 to play for Mafatlal (Mumbai). He holds the distinction of being the only player from Dehradun to be awarded Maharashtra’s highest sporting honour, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Award, in 1973.He was a regular member of the Indian football team in the mid-60s and early 70s.
Considered one the greatest left wingers India has ever produced, Amar gladdened the heart of the football lovers through his play, calmness and gentleman behavior on the filed. After leaving Maharashta, Amar Dai permanently settled in Dehradun in 2007 and since then was actively involved in football promotion. With the sole aim of sharing his knowledge and training budding players, Amar Bahadur formed the Doon FC club.
DehradunFootball.com deeply condoles the death of a great Indian footballer. Indian football will always miss a gentleman and sober sportsman like Amar Bahadur.
