BHUBANESWAR 20-Oct-2013 146
Former Odisha basketball player Syed Waqar Yunus passed away at the wee hours today following cardiac arrest here at his Palaspally home. He was 45 and is survived by his wife. Waqar suffered a massive stroke late last night and was taken to a city hospital where he breathed his last. His last rites were performed at Satyanagar.
A tall and well-built player, Waqar represented Odisha in different National championships for a decade (1988 to 1998). Known to friends as `Limca`, Waqar rendered commendable service for the promotion of the sport in the capital city.
His father Syed Ali Yunus was an eminent footballer, who represented Odisha in Santosh Trophy and played for Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting.
City basketball fraternity expressed shock over the demise of Waqar. ``Besides being a quality basketball player, Limca was a very good soul with fine sporting spirit. His premature demise is a great loss for the city basketball fraternity,`` said Khurda District Basketball Association secretary Prasant Nayak.
