Sports

India’s Legendary former footballer Chuni Goswami passes away due to cardiac arrest

Subimal Goswami (15 January, 1938 — 30 April, 2020) was an Indian international footballer and first class cricketer, generally referred to as his nickname, Chuni Goswami. He was born in Bangladesh, Kishoreganj District of Undivided Bengal. He played 50 international football matches for India as a striker. He played the Ranji Trophy for Bengal as a first-class cricketer.

Legendary Chuni Goswami, former Indian footballer captain of the gold-winning team at the 1962 Asian Games, died Thursday after cardiac arrest.He was a Padma Shri and Arjuna Award Recipient.

At the age of eight, Goswami joined the Mohun Bagan Junior Team in 1946. He was part of the junior team until 1954 and then graduated from the Senior Team of Mohun Bagan. He continued to play for Mohun Bagan until he retired in 1968. In his time with the club, he was captain of the club from 1960 to 1964 in five seasons.

In 1956 Chuni Goswami made his international debut for India during the Chinese Olympic Team’s 1-0 win. In 50 international matches, he played for India including the Olympics, Asia Games, The Asia Cup and the Merdeka Cup. He captured India in 1962 for the Asian Games Gold Medal and the Asia Cup Silver in Tel Aviv in 1964 and the Merdeka Cup.

He has also served as the Bengal Cricket captain for a time and led the team twice in his career to the final round of the Ranji Trophy. In his cricket career from 1972 to 1973, he played 46 top-class games, scoring 1592 runs and taking 47 wickets. In 1963 he received the Arjuna Award and in 1983 he received the Padma Shri Award. He was also recognized as Asia’s best scorer in 1962. In 2005 Chuni Goswami was awarded the Mohun Bagan Ratna Prize.