India's first Olympic swimmer Shamsher Khan passed away

Vijayawada, Oct 16: The India's first Olympic swimmer Shamsher Khan passed away in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district here on Sunday, following a prolonged illness. He was 87 and survived by three daughters and two sons.

Shamsher Khan, who had represented India in 1956 Melbourne Olympics, breathed his last at his house in Islampur, a small village near Repalle in Guntur.

According to family members, Khan, who was ailing for some time, complained of chest pain but died before he could be taken to the hospital.

The last rites will be performed in Islampur on Monday.

A forgotten sports hero, he was the first swimmer to represent India in Olympics.

Khan, who created a national record in the butterfly event, had learned swimming after joining the Army in 1946. He took part in the 1962 war against China and the 1971 war against Pakistan.

After serving for 24 years, he retired in 1973 as subedar (JCO). He lived his last years in poverty.

Khan had suffered a stroke in 2010 but was finding difficult to meet expenses even for his medication.

The leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy expressed grief over the death of Shamsher Khan and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.