Michael Kindo facts for kids

Michael Kindo (born June 28, 1946 – died December 31, 2020) was a famous Indian field hockey player. He came from a tribal area in Jharkhand. Michael Kindo played as a full back defender. This means he was a key player in stopping the other team from scoring goals.

He proudly represented India in many big tournaments. These included the 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup, the 1972 Summer Olympics, and the 1975 Men's Hockey World Cup. In 1972, he made history. He became the first Adivasi (an indigenous person of India) athlete to win the special Arjuna Award. This award is given to outstanding sportspeople in India.

Michael Kindo was known for his amazing skills. He was great at tackling opponents and moving past them. Many people said he was a pioneer in Indian hockey. He could make a "no-look pass," which meant passing the ball without looking. His teammates said he was very good at defending. He also helped his team attack fearlessly. Former team captain Ajit Pal Singh said Michael always made the right move. He was a very reliable player and rarely made mistakes.

Early Life and Hockey Beginnings

Michael Kindo was born on June 28, 1946. His family was from the Oraon tribe. They lived in a small village called Baighma in Bihar. This area is now part of Jharkhand.

He first started playing hockey at a middle school in Kurdeg. Later, he went to St Mary's High School in Simdega. This school was run by Jesuits. There, he greatly improved his hockey skills. He learned many professional techniques. After finishing school, he joined the Indian Navy.

Hockey Career Highlights

Playing for the Services Team

Joining the navy was a big step for Michael's hockey career. While in the navy, he was chosen to play for the Services hockey team. He played for them in the national championships from 1966 to 1973. In 1971, he was named the Best Services Sportsman. This award showed how talented he was.

Representing India on the World Stage

Kindo played his first international match for India in 1969. This was in a test series against Kenya. He was part of the Indian team that won a Bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

He also played in the first three hockey world cups.

• In the 1971 World Cup, India won a Bronze medal.
• In the 1973 World Cup, they won a Silver medal.
• And in the 1975 World Cup, India won the Gold medal!

Michael also represented India in field hockey at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran. India won a Silver medal there.

During the 1975 World Cup, Michael hurt his ankle. Because of this, he could not play in the final match. This injury also stopped him from playing in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. After India's team did not perform well in 1976, Michael decided to stop playing internationally.

Work After International Play

After his international career, Michael Kindo joined SAIL hockey in Rourkela. He played for the Odisha state team in national games from 1978 to 1980.

He also cared about helping young players. He used to organize hockey tournaments for children in his home village in Jharkhand. Michael also coached hockey at the SAIL Hockey Academy (SHA) in Rourkela. He helped get an artificial turf installed there. This special surface helps players train better.

Retirement and Lasting Impact

Michael Kindo lived a quiet life after retiring. He lived in his home in Rourkela with his family. He continued to support hockey. He was sad to see India's performance at the 2012 Olympics. He felt strongly about improving Indian hockey.

Michael Kindo passed away on December 31, 2020. He was at the Ispat General Hospital due to age-related illnesses. His body was brought to the Rourkela hockey stadium. People came to pay their respects. The district police also gave him a special Guard of Honour. He was then buried in the church graveyard.

Michael Kindo is still seen as a hero in his tribal community. He inspired many young people to play hockey. Today, his home region is known for producing many hockey players. Dilip Tirkey, a former India captain and one of Michael's students, said that the 2023 World Cup in Rourkela was possible because of Kindo's influence.

His teammates from the 1975 gold-winning team called him kindi bhai. They said he always kept the team's spirits high. He was known as a "gentleman defender." He was calm, kind, and simple, but very effective in the game. Ajit Pal Singh said that many players could attack fearlessly because they knew Michael was defending their goal.

Michael Kindo was one of the first tribal players to represent independent India. He is also the only one to win a World Cup. To honor him, St Mary's School in Simdega still holds a famous hockey tournament. It is called the 'Michael Tournament'.

Awards and Medals

Here is a list of the awards and medals Michael Kindo received:

• Best Services Sportsman award — 1971
• Third place, Barcelona Men's Hockey World Cup — 1971
• 3rd position (Bronze), Munich Summer Olympics — 1972
• Arjuna Award — 1972
• Runner-up, Amstelveen Men's Hockey World Cup — 1973
• 2nd position (Silver), Tehran Asian Games — 1974
• Winner, Kuala Lumpur Men's Hockey World Cup — 1975