Year 2020 ended with yet another sad incident as Indian hockey legend Michael Kindo passed away today at Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela after prolonged illness. He was 73 and is survived by wife, one son and two daughters. A dependable defender, Kindo won one bronze medal in Olympic Games and one gold, one silver and one bronze in World Cup.

Born in Jharkhand on 20 June, 1947, Kindo made his international debut in 1969 for the test series against Kenya. He was part of the Indian team that won the World Cup bronze medal in 1971 (Barcelona), silver in 1973 (Amsterdam) and gold medal in 1975 (Kuala Lumpur).

Kindo won the Olympic bronze medal in 1972 Munich Games. Known as The Wall of Indian team, Kindo formed a near-impregnable defence with Surjit Singh and Aslam Sher Khan. He was also part of the Indian team at the 1974 Tehran Asian Games.

Kindo represented Services, Railway and Odisha in Senior National Hockey Championships. His hockey career got a major boost when he joined Indian Navy after finishing his schooling. He won four gold medals for Railways at the Senior National Championships.

Kindo represented Orissa in Senior National Championships from 1978 to 1980 after joining Steel Authority of India (SAIL) in Rourkela in 1977. He retired from RSP as Senior Manager (Sports) in 2004. He was first tribal player to get Arjuna Award (in 1973).

Kindo was responsible for getting Astro turf installed at the SAIL Hockey Academy in Rourkela. After retirement, he settled in Rourkela. His son Charles Albert Kindo is a former State table tennis champion.