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Imran Sherwani, the Olympic hockey player from Stoke-on-Trent, has been fondly remembered by his family as a loving and devoted family man after his passing at the age of 63. Sherwani is best known for leading Great Britain to victory in hockey at the 1988 Olympic Games. His family highlighted that, beyond his sporting success, his warmth, humor, and kindness had a lasting impact on those who knew him. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019, Sherwani’s struggle with the illness became a significant part of his later life.
England Hockey shared a statement from Sherwani’s family expressing how deeply he will be missed, though his legacy will endure. The hockey community has paid tribute to him since news of his death emerged on Friday. Leek Hockey Club, where Sherwani held life membership, praised him as one of their greatest and most influential players. The club’s chairman, Andy Spragg, described Sherwani as an inspirational figure who was friendly, humble, and humorous. The club planned to observe a minute’s silence at Saturday’s games and hold a memorial celebration to honor his life.
Throughout his career, Sherwani earned 94 caps representing both Great Britain and England and later served as a director of hockey at a Staffordshire school. Coming from an athletic family—his father represented Pakistan in hockey and his great uncles were professional footballers—Sherwani’s sporting heritage was strong. Since his diagnosis, his family actively worked to raise awareness about young onset dementia. Alzheimer’s Research UK highlighted the positive impact of Sherwani’s openness in discussing his condition.
Remembered not only for hockey, Sherwani was known for his talents in various sports, including cricket, tennis, squash, and running. He was also recognized locally for running a newsagent’s shop in Stoke-on-Trent, where many residents knew him well. Angela Smith, a former world squash champion and friend, described him as “just a lovely guy.” Social media comments on BBC Radio Stoke’s pages reflected sentiments of a “local legend,” with one person recalling how local children lined up outside Sherwani’s family shop to see his Olympic medal
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