Former Indian hockey player Ashok Kumar, the son of legendary Major Dhyan Chand, suffered a heart attack after experiencing chest discomfort, but is now stable and out of danger, according to family sources on Monday. The 74-year-old was admitted to Escorts Hospital in New Delhi on Sunday evening after complaining of chest pain. Following an angiography, doctors discovered several blockages and will perform angioplasty to implant stents later today.
Family sources confirmed that Kumar is in a stable condition and his health has improved. He is expected to undergo the angioplasty later in the day.
Kumar, a former inside-right player known for his exceptional ball control, was part of the Indian team that won the 1975 Hockey World Cup under captain Ajit Pal Singh. He also contributed to India’s bronze medal victory in the 1972 Munich Olympics. A recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1974, Kumar made a significant contribution by scoring the winning goal against Pakistan in the 1975 World Cup, India’s only victory in the tournament.
In addition to his World Cup achievements, Kumar earned multiple accolades throughout his career, including bronze medals at the 1971 Barcelona and 1973 Amsterdam World Cups, and three silver medals at the Asian Games (1970 Bangkok, 1974 Tehran, and 1978 Bangkok).
Earlier this year, Kumar was honored with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his immense contributions to Indian hockey.
His family expressed optimism about his recovery and thanked the medical staff for their care and support.
