New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS): Chuni Goswami, the Indian football stalwart who led India to a gold medal in the 1962 Asian Games in Bangkok, was honoured by the Indian postal department who issued a postal stamp on his 82nd birthday.

Chuni-da, as the Arjuna awardee and Padma Shri is fondly known amongst football supporters, is the third Indian footballer after the late Gostho Paul (1998), and late Talimeren Ao (2018) on whose name a postal stamp has been issued by the largest postal network in the world.

"It was a completely unexpected gesture. I'm really humbled with this honour shown to me. It'll further inspire me to live a longer life," Goswami, whose birthday was on Wednesday, said.

"Over the years, I have received many laurels during my sporting career. But this one at the fag-end of my life, will surely be right up there," he added after the commemorative stamp was issued at his residence in Kolkata.

Goswami was also a member of the Indian team which finished second behind hosts Israel in the AFC Asian Cup in 1964. He had scored India's third goal in the 3-1 victory against Hong Kong en-route to the final.

He is also one of the six Indian footballers to have received the Padma Shri award (the others being the Late Gotsho Paul, late Sailen Manna, PK Banerjee, Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri) along with the Arjuna award.