# Sayed Jaffar

**Sayed Jaffar**, full name Sayed Muhammad Jaffar Shah (born December 1911; died 21 March 1937), was an Indian field hockey player who won two Olympic gold medals as a left winger, at the 1932 Los Angeles Games and the 1936 Berlin Games, representing British India.<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> He was also known by the name "Jaffar Shah".<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sayed Muhammad Jaffar Shah; used name Sayed Jaffar; also called "Jaffar Shah"<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> |
| Born | December 1911 in Shergarh, Punjab, in what is now Pakistan<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> |
| Died | 21 March 1937, Lahore, Punjab, in a hunting accident on the river Ravi<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> |
| Position | Left winger; described as among the best players in the left-out position of his era<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> |
| Olympic medals | 2 gold, men's hockey, Los Angeles 1932 and Berlin 1936<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> |
| Height | 173 cm<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> |

## Olympic career

Jaffar played for the British India men's hockey team at two consecutive Olympic Games, both of which ended with the team finishing first and taking the gold medal.<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> At Los Angeles 1932 he was part of a squad that included [Dhyan Chand](https://www.edgepedia.org/dhyan-chand), Roop Singh, Richard Allen, and [Carlyle Tapsell](https://www.edgepedia.org/carlyle-tapsell); at Berlin 1936 he again played alongside Dhyan Chand and Allen, with teammates including [Joe Galibardy](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-galibardy), Peter Paul Fernandes, and Lionel Emmett.<sup>[2](https://www.olympedia.org/countries/IND/sports/HOC)</sup> Olympedia lists him among the hockey players who successfully defended their Olympic title in the same event in back-to-back Games.<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup>

His standing in the 1936 team went beyond his playing role.

## Life and education

Jaffar was born in 1911 in Shergarh, in the Punjab region that after the 1947 partition fell within Pakistan.<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> He was educated at Aitchison College and at Government College, both in Lahore.<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> His recorded playing height was 173 cm.<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup>

## Death

Jaffar died on 21 March 1937 in a hunting accident on the banks of the river Ravi near Lahore. When he went to retrieve a downed duck, he was caught in seaweed and drowned.<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)</sup> He was about 25 years old.

## Memorials

Two commemorations in Lahore keep his name in the sport.

## Related names

Several later athletes share similar names and should not be confused with the hockey player. Sayed Mohammed Jaffer (born 1985 in Manama) is a Bahraini goalkeeper who has played for Al-Muharraq SC and the Bahrain national team.<sup>[3](https://fbref.com/en/players/ba60ea49/)</sup> Sayed Ahmed Jaafar (born 1991) is a retired Bahraini central midfielder with 33 caps for Bahrain.<sup>[4](https://www.transfermarkt.com/sayed-ahmed-jaafar/profil/spieler/264224)</sup> Ahmed Ebrahim Haroon Jaffer (1909–1990) was a Pakistani sports administrator, the first President of the Pakistan Olympic Association and an [International Olympic Committee](https://www.edgepedia.org/international-olympic-committee) member from 1949 to 1956.<sup>[5](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/899198)</sup>

## References

1. [Sayed Jaffar, Olympedia](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19189)
2. [India in Hockey, Olympedia](https://www.olympedia.org/countries/IND/sports/HOC)
3. [Sayed Mohammed Jaffer, FBref](https://fbref.com/en/players/ba60ea49/)
4. [Sayed Ahmed Jaafar, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/sayed-ahmed-jaafar/profil/spieler/264224)
5. [Ahmed Jaffer, Olympedia](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/899198)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Hockey and remaining team sports › Field hockey › Indian field hockey players*

*Initially written Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license