Multiple legendary sporting personalities passed away in 2020. Take a look at how and when they passed away. Also know their big achievements, huge void and glittering legacies they left behind.
1. The renowned American Basketball player Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. Gianna Maria, Kobe’s 13 years old daughter who was traveling with him also died in the accident.
Kobe Bryant was a five-time National Basketball Association champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) and was also announced as one of the most valuable players of the NBA in 2008.
He won the gold medal with the USA team in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
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2. Football legend Diego Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020 after suffering cardiac arrest at the age of 60.
Maradona played his first World Cup Tournament in Spain in 1982.
Under his captaincy in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the Argentine National Team won the finals against West Germany.
The famous ‘Hand of God’ moment also came in the same tournament during the quarter-finals match between England and Argentina.
3. Balbir Singh Kullar, a former Indian hockey player and Olympic bronze medalist passed away at the age of 77 on February 28, 2020.
Balbir made his international debut in the national hockey team of India in 1963 in France.
Kullar was part of the Indian hockey team that won the Asian Games Gold in 1966 in Bangkok and the Olympic bronze medal in 1968 in Mexico.
Kullar was awarded Padma Shri in 2009, the fourth highest civilian honor, and Arjuna Award in 1999.
4. The co-inventor of the Duckworth-Lewis method used in cricket, Tony Lewis passed away on March 15, 2020, at the age of 78.
The formula was first used in a match between England and Zimbabwe in 1997. It was later officially adopted by the International Cricket Council in 1999.
Duckworth-Lewis is a mathematical calculation that has been designed to calculate the second batting team target score in a limited-overs cricket match that has been interrupted by rain or any other circumstances.
5. Three times Olympic medal-winning hockey legend, Balbir Singh Sr. passed away on May 25, 2020 at the age of 96.
Balbir Singh Sr. was the only Indian among the 16 legends chosen by the International Olympic Committee across modern Olympic history.
His record of scoring most goals by an individual in the Olympics men’s hockey finals still remains unbeaten.
He won three gold medals in 1948 in London, in 1952 in Helsinki, and in 1956 in Melbourne.
In 1957, he was conferred with Padma Shri Award.
6. The former cricketer and Uttar Pradesh Minister Chetan Chauhan passed away at the age of 73 due to COVID-19 on August 16, 2020.
Chetan played 40 test matches for India and also played Ranji Trophy for Delhi and Maharashtra.
He retired from both test and ODI matches in 1981.
He was the MLA from Naugawan Sadat Constituency in Amroha and was the minister of Sainik welfare, home guards, PRD, and civil security.
7. Renowned wrestler, Shripati Khanchanale who won the prestigious title ‘Hind Kesari’ in 1959 passed away on December 14, 2020, at the age of 86.
He won the title after defeating the wrestler Rustam-e-Punjab Battasingh.
8. Left-arm spinner Rajinder Goel, who was conferred with the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by the BCCI, died aged 77 on June 21, 2020.
Rajinder Goel never played for India despite picking 750 first-class wickets.
Goel holds the record for most wickets taken in Ranji Trophy as he scalped 637.
9. Paolo Rossi, the hero of Italy's 1982 World Cup-winning campaign, has died at the age of 64.
He remains one of only three players to have won all three together (World Cup title, Golden Ball and Golden Boot), along with Garrincha in 1962 and Mario Kempes in 1978.
Rossi was also voted as the European Footballer of the Year in 1982.
Along with Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio, Rossi holds the Italian record for 9 goals scored in the World Cup.
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