Hockey legend Dhyan Chand’s son Ashok Kumar injured in road accident in Bhopal

Ashok Kumar

Hockey legend Dhyan Chand’s son Ashok Kumar has met with a serious accident in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Ashok, who is also a former Olympian like his legendary father, was on his way to the Bhopal Railway Station on a motorcycle where he was scheduled to proceed to Jhansi. According to sources in the know of the incident, the mishap happened near the Sultania Hospital in Bhopal.

Ashok was travelling along with Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy goalkeeper Amit Rathore when the accident occurred.

It is learnt that the motorcycle in which the duo of Ashok Kumar and Amit Rathore were riding, was rammed into by a Maruti car.

The impact of the collision was such that Ashok Kumar sustained grievous leg injuries while Amit Rathore received minor injuries in his leg.

Both Ashok Kumar and Amit Rathore were rushed to a local hospital. Doctor conducted an operation on Ashok Kumar’s leg.

Both are said to be recovering.

Madhya Pradesh Sports Director Dr. Shailendra Srivastava visited the duo at the hospital and took stock of their health.

Ashok Kumar was a celebrated striker during his playing days. He is famously remembered for scoring the winning goal in the 1975 World Cup hockey final against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur.

His goal generated a lot of controversy – Ashok had banged the ball off a pass from another former legend Surjit Singh. The ball had grazed the corner of the post and bounced out. but startlingly for a fraction of a second, the ball was in the goal.

The Pakistan players had vehemently protested against this goal but the Malaysian umpire defied all that and confirmed the goal.

Ashok was also part of the team for the inaugural 1971 World Cup held in Barcelonia, Spain, where India picked up a bronze.

The speedy striker appeared in the 1973 World Cup in Amsterdam, the Netherlands where India snaffled a silver medal.

His fourth and last World Cup appearance was in the 1978 edition in Argentina where the men in blue gradually slipped down the ladder, finishing sixth.

Ashok Kumar first represented India at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where India grabbed a bronze.

His second and only Olympic appearance was at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where India finished a poor seventh – the first occasion that the Blueshirts had not made a top-three finish since the 1928 Olympics.

Ashok Kumar was conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1974. He is one of the seven sons of Dhyan Chand.