Born on February 22, 1972, FLORIAN KUNZ (First from left) stands two metres tall and packed a mighty wallop from penalty corners. After winning the 2001 FIH Player of the year award, he led Germany to their first-ever World Cup title the next year at the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The award was presented to him during the 2002 World Cup on a rest day.
Another top-podium finish followed in 2003 at the inaugural Indoor World Cup in Leipzig. Kunz picked up a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics but retired shortly later although he continued playing club hockey for Gladbach in the German league.
Pic: (l-r): Angie Skirving, Tibor Weissenorn, Luciana Ayamar and Florian Kunz, all FIH Award winners 2001, presented at Concorde Hotel, Kuala Lumpur during the rest day of 2002 World Cup.
PHOTO: K.Arumugam