Moscow Olympic hockey gold medallists fall to Covid

It was a sad day for Indian hockey as two of its stalwarts, MK Kaushik and Ravinder Pal Singh, died due to Covid-19 complications. Both were members of the last Indian team to win Olympic gold, at Moscow in 1980.

Kaushik, who scored a goal in India’s thrilling 4-3 win against Spain in the final of the Games, breathed his last in New Delhi on Saturday evening. Like Kaushik, Singh too succumbed to post-Covid complications, breathing his last in a Lucknow hospital in the morning.

Kaushik, 66, is survived by his wife and two sons. He has coached the Indian men’s and women’s teams with distinction. His biggest moment as coach came at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games when he guided the men to gold after a 32-year wait. He helped a set of skilful players stay focused amid differences with the hockey federation headed by the late KPS Gill as India beat South Korea in a shootout in the final.

Under his guidance, the Indian women clinched gold against odds at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. The team also won bronze at the 2006 Doha Asian Games. Kaushik received the Arjuna Award in 1998 and the Dronacharya award in 2002.

Kaushik was suffering from severe lung issues and was put on ventilator support on Saturday, but breathed his last around 7 pm. Family members said even after testing negative, Kaushik had remained in hospital for almost two weeks due to falling oxygen saturation levels.

Kaushik tested positive for Covid-19 last month, and despite symptoms his RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests returned negative on April 17. A week later, however, he was diagnosed with pneumonia due to coronavirus following a CT scan of the chest.

His wife, too had tested positive but was released from hospital after testing negative on Friday evening. “He was shifted to ventilator this morning but passed away just now,” his son Eshan Kaushik said.

Dhanraj Pillay, skipper of the 1998 Asian Games team, tweeted: “I’m numb with pain & shock with the passing away of MK.Kaushik sir. He inspired many generations of hockey players, first as a player & then a coach. A fine winger and a finer coach, he will always like in our memories. Bangkok Asian Games Gold medalist Coach.”

Kaushik’s death came hours after his teammate Ravinder Pal Singh’s. A skilful centrehalf as a player, Pal, 61, was admitted to a Lucknow hospital on April 25. A bachelor, he is survived by niece Pragya Yadav.

Singh had shown signs of recovery and was shifted to the non-Covid ward on Thursday after testing negative. But his condition worsened on Friday afternoon, and despite being put on ventilator support, succumbed to coronavirus.

Ravinder Pal Singh also played in the 1984 Los Angeles Games—India were fifth. Employed with State Bank of India, he played in the 1982 Mumbai World Cup and 1982 Asia Cup.

“I haven’t seen such a great centre-half in my life. Always helpful to every sportsperson in Lucknow and a swift mover with the hockey stick in the field,” said Syed Ali, member of India’s victorious 1964 Tokyo Olympics hockey team.

“A very down to earth man, but quite aggressive on the hockey field, he was unmatched in his qualities, and we never lost the match in Lucknow, if he was in our team,” said Ali, who runs the KD Singh ‘Babu’ Hockey Society.

Another former India hockey captain and drag-flicker Rajneesh Mishra recalled his early playing days at the sports college in Lucknow while watching his seniors, including Ravinder Pal, playing.

“I was stranded once as I had to rush to the Sports College to play an important match. Suddenly, I found Pal Sir ready to take me to the venue on his scooter without any delay. I couldn’t believe that such a great player of his time was ready to help a youngster without any purpose,” said Mishra on Saturday.

Singh was also a good football player. Post-retirement, it was a routine affair to see him at action at the KD Singh ‘Babu’ Stadium. “He (Pal) used to dribble the football like in hockey.

Snatching the ball away from him was quite tricky even for the regular footballers,” said Mishra.

Former India captain and UP’s director sports RP Singh said that it was a great loss to Uttar Pradesh hockey. “He (Pal) was such a great player. Many of us grew up watching him play. His contribution to UP hockey is immense.”

Ravinder Pal Singh, who also played at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and was a bachelor, played in the 1979 Junior World Cup. Born in Sitapur, Singh excelled as a centrehalf from 1979 to 1984.

Besides two Olympics, Singh had also represented India in the Champions Trophy in Karachi (1980, 1983), Silver Jubilee 10-nation Cup in Hong Kong in 1983, the 1982 World Cup in Mumbai and the 1982 Asia Cup in Karachi, among other tournaments. He took voluntary retirement from State Bank of India after quitting hockey.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, too, condoled the death of Ravinder Pal Singh. “It’s a big loss to Indian sport and I pray to god to give courage to bereaved family,” the CM tweeted.

Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted: “Again a sad day for Indian Hockey. We lost MK Kaushik ji, member of the Indian hockey team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He also coached the 1998 Asian Games men’s team & 2002 Commonwealth Games women’s team. Both teams won gold. Salute to Kaushik ji. Rest in peace.” He had earlier tweeted his condolences following Ravinder Pal’s death.

Former captain of the Indian men’s hockey team Viren Rasquinha took to Twitter to express his sadness over the death of the two hockey legends on the same day. “Really sad day for Indian hockey and Indian sport. Two legends have passed away in a single day succumbing to covid-19 complications - Ravinder Pal Singh and MK Kaushik. Both were 1980 Moscow Olympics Hockey Gold medallists. Just too shocked,” he wrote.

Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal too condoled the deaths of two. “This is really a sad day for our hockey fraternity we lost two great Olympians MK Kaushik sir and Ravinder Pal Singh sir members of 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medalist team. My heartfelt condolences to their families. RIP,” she tweeted.

Former India hockey coach Harendra Singh tweeted: #HarrySpeak Deeply saddened by the tragic demise of India’s finest centre half of Modern Hockey Player — Pal Bhai was part of India’s gold medal winning team at 1980 Moscow Olympic.I pay my heartfelt tribute and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul.”

UP Olympic Association’s secretary, Anandeshwar Pandey also condoled Singh’s death. Singh was cremated at Lucknow’s Bhainsakund cremation ground, where sportspersons and officials gathered to bid farewell to their “hero”.