Asiad gold medallist footballer Prashanta Sinha passes away

Former India footballer and member of the 1962 Asian Games’ gold <g data-gr-id="18">medal winning</g> squad <g data-gr-id="17">Prashanta</g> Sinha passed away, here on Tuesday. He was 77 years old and is survived by his daughter Sonali and son-in-law Prateek. Sinha was admitted to PG Hospital for the last one month and was in a state of coma for the past week.

A left-half, he was best known for being an integral part of India’s best-ever ‘Class of 62’ that won the gold medal at the Asian Games under Syed Rahim’s coaching. Sinha, who was in the <g data-gr-id="27">reserves in fact</g> played the semi-final and the final. <g data-gr-id="25">However</g> his finest hour for the national team came when he was brilliant at the 1964 Asian Cup in Israel where India were runners-up, losing the final in Tel Aviv to the home team.

Sinha, who made his international debut from a relatively small office team like Eastern Railways, was a stalwart for East Bengal as he played from 1964 to 1971 for the <g data-gr-id="19">red-and gold</g> brigade.

His most memorable match was the 1970 IFA Shield game against Paz Club of Iran. While <g data-gr-id="20">Parimal</g> Dey’s long ranger was <g data-gr-id="24">remembered</g> but it was Sinha, who worked tirelessly in the midfield.