New Delhi, India, May 9, 2021: Two members of the gold medal-winning Indian hockey team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Maharaj Krishnan Kaushik and Ravinder Pal Singh, have died of Covid-related complications.
MK Kaushik, 66, died of Covid-19 in New Delhi on Saturday, May 8, hours after teammate RP Singh passed away in Lucknow. He was 62.
Hockey India mourned the loss of both former stars.
“Hockey India extends its deepest condolences to Ravinder Pal Singh’s family. Ravinder made an immense contribution to Indian hockey and his achievements will always be remembered,” Hockey India’s President Gyanendro Ningombam said in a statement.
Later the governing body tweeted: “Hockey India grieves the loss of Mr. M.K. Kaushik, Gold medal winning Olympian and former coach of the Indian Hockey Team.”
Kaushik had coached the India men’s team to Asian Games gold in 1998 in Bangkok. He also worked as head coach of the women’s hockey team which won a bronze medal at the Doha Asian Games in 2006.
Former centre-half Singh represented the national team in a number of tournaments including the Champions Trophy in 1980 and 1983, World Cup in 1982, Asia Cup in 1982 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
Among the many others to express their condolences on Facebook were Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and the Indian Olympic Association.
