World Cup winner and Olympic bronze medallist Indian hockey player Michael Kindo dies
Michael Kindo played for the Indian hockey team that won the bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics and the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
Former Indian hockey player Michael Kindo, who was part of the bronze medal-winning men’s team at the Munich Olympics in 1972, breathed his last in Rourkela, Odisha, on Thursday. He was 73 years old.
Kindo also played for India in the 1975 Hockey World Cup-winning campaign in Malaysia, where the team beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the final. That was the only time India won a World Cup.
The former Indian hockey player was bedridden for quite sometime due to age-related ailments and was suffering from depression. He died at the Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
His last rites will be completed on Friday.
Born June 20, 1947 – the year of India’s Independence – Michael Kindo emerged as one of the best defenders in the world and is regarded as an Indian hockey great. He excelled as a full-back.
“Michael Kindo was one of the best defenders in the world. At a time when defenders in hockey were mostly from Punjab who were well built and stocky, he excelled with his exceptional reflexes,” former Indian hockey team goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi told the Olympic Channel while condoling Kindo’s death.
“He had this unique style of taking away the ball from the attacking players like how one takes out easily a house fly from the milk with a spoon. Nobody could dodge him. We lost a great hockey legend who spent all his life for the promotion of the game” Negi added.
Michael Kindo was also adept at bombing forward and scored three important goals during India’s bronze medal run at the 1972 Olympics.
Hockey India also condoled Kindo’s death.
Lead photo: Indian Express/Hockey India