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India’s first Olympian swimmer Mehboob Khan no more

News Network
October 16, 2017

Guntur, Oct 16: Mehboob Shamsher Khan, India’s first Olympian swimmer, passed away due to cardiac arrest at his native village of Kaithepalle in Repalle Mandal of Guntur district on Sunday at the age of 92 years.

He was national hero in the year 1956 when he became first Indian swimmer to finish fifth at the Melbourne Olympics. He is survived by two sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

Shamsher Khan ironically lived in utter poverty till his death despite serving in the Indian army for nearly 24 years and retiring in the rank of Subedar.

Shamsher Khan had joined the Army in 1946 and served in two crucial wars — against China in 1962 and Pakistan in 1973. He was inducted into the Madras Engineer Group in Bengaluru.

In interviews he explained his swimming training as totally “local” and “rural.” He said that he initially learnt to swim with buffaloes at the village pond and got the chance to get trained after joining the Army. He set a national record in the 200 metres butterfly in 1954 and broke all records at the national meet in 1955.

Khan got place on the Olympic swimming team with sheer performance which he repeated in Melbourne. Recalling his experience, he had said that the Indian government arranged only air fare to Melbourne and that he got a loan of Rs 300 from the Army to meet his costs during the Olympics. He further explained in interviews that his salary was only Rs 56 per month and that the loan amount was deducted without any subsidy, rebate or reduction.

Shamsher Khan’s elder son Sajid Vali Khan is serving the Indian army and he was living with his younger son Ali Khan in his native place. Family members stated that Shamsher Khan suffered a heart attack few years ago and was on medication.

A.P. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress president Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy expressed grief and sorrow over Shamsher Khan’s demise and praised his services.

Comments

Rahim
 - 
Monday, 16 Oct 2017

We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.

Ibrahim
 - 
Monday, 16 Oct 2017

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

well wisher
 - 
Monday, 16 Oct 2017

Why and for what reason the history of such great swimmers was kept under carpet.

Abdul
 - 
Monday, 16 Oct 2017

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna ilahi Rajihoon.......

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News Network
April 29,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 29: Karnataka government on Tuesday ordered organisations and NGOs in the state to distribute food to people in plastic boxes and not in polythene bags.

"The state government has ordered the distribution of food and meals in plastic boxes instead of in polythene bags," said the Information and Public Relations Department of the state government.

According to the government, during Covid-19, not only government departments and agencies but also various organisations and NGOs are providing meals to workers in polythene covers.

"However, in order to protect the health of the workers, the government has ordered the supply of food or meals in plastic boxes instead of polythene covers," it added.

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News Network
March 29,2020

Mangaluru, Mar 29: Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty has sent the second consignment of N95 Masks, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and Sanitisers worth about Rs 73 lakhs, City police Commissioner Dr P S Harsha said on Sunday.

"These will be primarily used by Doctors, Nurses and Paramedics of Wenlock Hospital here and masks by the frontline staff of ASHA and police at risk of exposure to the virus,” Dr Harsha tweeted on Sunday.

The district has received the first consignment with critical medical equipment worth Rs 28 lakh from the Infosys foundation on Saturday, March 28.

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News Network
July 14,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 14: More than 80 Namma Metro workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Bengaluru on Tuesday, said Yashwanth Chauhan BL, public relations officer of Namma Metro.

"All safety and treatment protocols would be followed at the camps," he added.

These workers were staying in a camp near Nagavara-Gottigere lane, reach-6 of phase two. More than 200 contract workers of Larsen and Toubro who had come from different states have been tested after a labourer complained of fever.

All coronavirus positive workers were shifted to a COVID care centre while others were kept in isolation as per the guidelines.

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