Bengaluru: India last won an Olympic gold medal in hockey in 1980. In the men’s hockey final at the Moscow Olympics in Russia, India defeated Spain to claim the gold medal. MM Somaiya was an important member of that Indian team. Now, the Olympic gold medal won by the former Indian hockey captain has been stolen from his residence in Bengaluru’s New Thippasandra area.

Apart from the Olympic gold medal, the thieves also stole three other international medals and several valuable gold and silver items.

Sixty-seven-year-old MM Somaiya was also part of the Indian teams that won silver at the 1982 Asian Games and bronze at the 1986 Asian Games. He also won a bronze medal at the 1982 Champions Trophy. Medals from all three of these competitions were stolen as well.

Somaiya has written a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, seeking his help. He has urged the Chief Minister to make every possible effort to recover all the stolen belongings, including his Olympic medal.

In his letter, Somaiya stated that an Olympic gold medal is not merely an individual achievement of a sportsperson but an honour won for the country at the world's biggest sporting event.

According to the police complaint, the thieves also took gold jewellery, silver utensils and Rs 30,000 in cash. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at approximately Rs 3.53 lakh.

The stolen items include a 10-gram gold bracelet, an 8-gram gold coin, two silver cups weighing 144 grams, six silver spoons and a silver vessel weighing 80 grams.

The theft came to light at around 7:15 am on October 28, when a neighbour noticed that the main door of Somaiya’s house was open and informed him.

CCTV cameras installed at the neighbour’s house captured two unidentified men entering the residence. According to the police complaint, one of the suspects was wearing a blue shirt, while the other was dressed in a red shirt.

MM Somaiya was among the prominent players of the Indian hockey team during the 1980s. He began his Olympic career at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where India won its eighth and last Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey.

Somaiya, who played as a right-half, also represented India at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He captained the Indian team at the Seoul Olympics.

In recognition of his contribution to Indian hockey, Somaiya was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1985.