S2H Team

Mumbai-based former players Mervyn Fernandis and MM Somaya expressed grief over 1980 Moscow Olympic teammates MK Kaushik and Ravinderpal Singh, both of whom passed away on Saturday (May 8) from Covid-19.

Kaushik breathed his last in Delhi in the evening after Ravinderpal bid adieu in the morning at Lucknow and both players drew fond memories from the Mumbai duo.

Mervyn could relate to the agony both players experienced. After all, he had gone through the trauma of covid-19, even being hospitalized with chest congestion in April.

“It was frightening,” Mervyn revealed. “I couldn’t speak, coughed frequently, experienced body ache and fever…”

“After getting the news I shared memories about Kaushik with my wife,” Mervyn said. “I first got a chance to play with him at the 1976 Cuttack National Championship.

“He got to like me, took care of me in the team. I grew close to him and he being a right-winger and me a right-in enabled me to learn a lot from him.”

The young Mervyn continued imbibing lessons from Kaushik and at the 1979 Esanda International tournament in Perth he recalls sharing a room with him.

“When it came to the Moscow Olympics, I was joined by Somaya, my Mumbai teammate, and the three of us were roommates right from the preparatory camp,” Mervyn reminisced.

“It was a pleasure playing with Kaushik. He never ceased teaching us a lot and what was most striking was his discipline.

“It was this discipline that he carried on to coaching which helped India win the Asian Games gold medal after 32 years at Bangkok 1998,” Mervyn said of Kaushik who came to Mumbai from Delhi.

“As a person, Kaushik was a lovely fellow and my mind is in a whirl with all the memories coming through that involved my interaction with him.

“As for Ravinderpal, the first image that comes to mind is his nod and smile. He was down-to-earth and never reacted to any scolding on the pitch in the heat of battle,” Mervyn recollects.

“I captained the Indian team at the 1979 Versailles Jr World Cup and I remember Ravinderpal’s boundless energy as he ran up and down the pitch from one ‘D’ to the other.

For Somaya, it was a birthday marred by sad news as the right-half of the triumphant Moscow Olympic team looked back on his combine with Kaushik.

“I first watched him play for Tata’s in the 1975 Aga Khan Cup final which Northern Railway won in the tie-breaker. He was phenomenal and his combination with Jani Mohidin at right-half was pleasing to watch.

“Kaushik was swift and skilful and had guile aplenty to out-manoeuvre the opponent left-half. He would move inward and I would overlap the defence to lay siege to their citadel – something we practised intensely,” Somaya revealed.

“He joined Chinnai College, Mumbai, in 1978, and I played against him (representing St Xavier’s) in the collegiate semifinal which we lost but I got a close look at his impressive game.

“Then, we played together at the 1979 Hyderabad National Championship for Mumbai where I got to know him. Mervyn, he and I were roommates and he was very protective of us, made us feel comfortable and helped me find my feet.”

Somaya, can never forget the spectacular goal he scored against The Netherlands in the 1982 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium (albeit in a losing cause).

“He snatched the ball from a defender, dashed into the circle and scored from the narrowest of angles,” he recalled.

Somaya also commended Kaushik, the coach.

“He has contributed significantly to both men’s and women’s hockey as a coach. What made him successful was his ability at spotting the right player for the right position and it helped the selection panel I belonged to as a government nominee at the time immensely.

“And when it came to strategy and tactics, Kaushik kept it simple and avoided going too hi-tech. It brought the best out of the players.”

WHAT THE INDIAN SPORTSWORLD SAID

Dhanraj Pillay (Indian hockey captain)
@dhanrajpillay1
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 live in our memories.Bangkok Asian Games Gold medalist Coach

Rani Rampal (Indian Women’s Hockey team captain)
@imranirampal
This is really a heartbreaking moment for me, have lost our former coach Olympian MK Kaushik Sir who coached us during my debut in the national team. He was really a great personality & hardworking. We lost a noble soul due to COVID-19. My heartfelt condolences to his family. RIP
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

Kiren Rijiju (Sports Minister, Govt of India)
@KirenRijiju
Again a sad day for Indian Hockey. We lost MK Kaushik ji, member of the Indian Hockey Team that won gold at 1980 Moscow Olympic. 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 Folded hands

Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Parliamentarian)
@JM_Scindia
Saddened about the passing away of legendary Hockey player & Olympic gold medallist, Shri MK Kaushik ji. Indian Hockey has lost yet another guiding light to Covid-19 today. My heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and fans. Om Shanti.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan
@ChouhanShivraj (Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh)
Saddened to learn about the demise of one of the member of 1980 Olympic-Gold Medal winning Indian hockey team Shri MK Kaushik Ji. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family. Huge loss for Indian Hockey.

Viren Rasquinha (Arjuna Awardee, hockey)
@virenrasquinha
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 Crying face