SALIM Baig, an iconic sportsperson and one of the towering personalities in the sporting fraternity of Nagpur passed away after a brief illness, on Saturday. Baig, a resident of Building No 14, Aakaar Builder, Byramji Town, was 84. His last rites were performed the same evening at Muslim Kabrastan, Jaripatka. Baig is survived by his daughter. Born on September 10, 1941, Salim bhai, as he was affectionately known in sporting circle, was a distinguished athlete, an inspirational leader, and a respected administrator whose contributions to sports—especially hockey and football—remain unparalleled. Baig represented Nagpur University in football, hockey, cricket, and athletics for four consecutive years, and captained the varsity football and hockey teams in 1964–65.

 

A former hockey forward and member of Nagpur United Club, Baig joined South East Central Railway and retired as a Special Grade Guard. His journey in sports began early, and his records in Nagpur University across multiple disciplines still stand unmatched. He represented the Vidarbha football team in the prestigious Bombay Rovers Cup from 1963 to 1965. Beginning his football career with the renowned Iqbal Club, Kamptee (1959), Baig later joined Young Muslim Football Club from 1960, during which the club swept all major tournaments of now defunct Vidarbha Football Association, including the VFA League, VFA Knock-Out, Chirimeri Cup, and Mini Rovers Cup. Baig was an excellent left-out and his agility and speed was unmatched on the hockey field. After joining SE Railways in 1965, Baig played as a goalkeeper for the BNR, Kolkata football team. After dominating the field in various sports, Baig remained associated with sports and served as a qualified football referee and officiated in major tournaments in Chandrapur, Pusad, and other cities.

 

An administrator par excellence, Baig served as official of various sports organisations. He served as joint secretary of Vidarbha Football Association (1965–1974) and as secretary of Nagpur District Football Association from 1965, alongside late Sardar Atal Bahadur Singh. He continued to serve the NDFA in various capacities, including Vice-President and Working President, until 2016. He was the Chairman of the Advisory Committee till date. In hockey, his achievements were equally outstanding. He represented the Vidarbha hockey team for eight consecutive years, captaining the side at Ooty. Not only Vidarbha, Baig also represented West Bengal State team in 1971 at Jalandhar nationals. He was also selected for the national coaching camp in Bombay for the 1960 Rome Olympics. At the university level, he represented India and toured Afghanistan. He was named Best Player of the Beighton Tour Event at Kolkata in 1968. As a national hockey umpire, Salim bhai officiated in major international tournaments involving India, East Germany, West Germany, Holland, Sri Lanka, and Japan.

 

Beyond hockey and football, Baig made remarkable contributions to sepak takraw. He served as Secretary General of the Sepak Takraw Federation of India for 30 years (1982–2012). In 2008, he held the position of Deputy General Secretary of Asian and International Sepak Takraw Federation. He was also the manager of Indian sepak takraw teams on international tours to Malaysia, Bangkok, Vietnam, Macau and Singapore. Baig was a founder member and the first Secretary of The Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association, Nagpur, and was serving as the Chairman of its Advisory Committee until his final days. He also contributed significantly as a long-standing executive committee member of the Vidarbha Hockey Association. His life was defined by his unwavering dedication, passion, and lifelong commitment to sports. He remained actively involved in nurturing and promoting hockey and other sports across Nagpur and Vidarbha right until the end.