Mohammed Shahid, who recently passed away, was a legendary Indian player of which sport?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your awareness of famous Indian sports personalities, particularly Mohammed Shahid. He is remembered as one of Indias finest players in his discipline, and exam setters often ask which sport he represented when such legends pass away.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The stem gives these points.

• The person is Mohammed Shahid.
• He is described as a legendary Indian player who has recently passed away.
• We must choose the sport he was associated with.
• Options are badminton, hockey, football and cricket.

Concept / Approach:
Mohammed Shahid was a star of Indian field hockey. He was famous for his exceptional dribbling skills and was part of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He also played in many other international hockey tournaments. He was not known as a leading player in badminton, football or cricket, so the correct sport is hockey.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise the name Mohammed Shahid as belonging to a former Indian hockey player. Step 2: Recall that he played as a forward and was celebrated for his speed and ball control on the hockey field. Step 3: Connect his name with the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal winning Indian hockey team. Step 4: Look at the options and identify hockey as the correct sport. Step 5: Eliminate badminton, football and cricket as they are associated with different sets of famous Indian players.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you have read sports obituaries or news reports about his passing, they clearly describe him as an Indian hockey legend and as part of the Olympic gold medal winning team. This provides a strong confirmation that his sport was hockey. No reliable source links Mohammed Shahid to international level badminton, football or cricket representation for India.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A badminton is wrong because Indian badminton legends include names like Prakash Padukone, P Gopichand and Saina Nehwal, not Mohammed Shahid. Option C football is incorrect because he did not represent India as a footballer. Option D cricket is wrong since Indian cricket legends have different names and Mohammed Shahid is not among them.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse Mohammed Shahid with other sports personalities who share similar first names, especially in cricket or football. Another pitfall is not following sports news and therefore having only a vague memory of older players. Regular reading of sports sections and maintaining a list of important Indian medal winners and legends will prevent such errors.

Final Answer:
Mohammed Shahid was a legendary Indian player of Hockey.