Doha residents mourn volleyball player’s death

By Ramesh Mathew & Ashraf Padanna/Doha/Thiruvananthapuram

Former Doha resident and ex-Indian team captain and volleyball sensation of the 1980s, K Udayakumar, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his office here yesterday at the age of 54, family sources said.

Udayakumar was rushed to a city hospital where doctors confirmed his death.  Udayakumar was on duty as the aides de camp (ADC) to the Kerala Governor at the Raj Bhavan, the governor’s bungalow in the state capital. Udayakumar had been serving as ADC to successive governors here since 2002.

Reacting to Udayakumar’s sudden death, president of the Qatar Volleyball Association, Yusuf Kanoo, said “I have lost one of my best friends. He was a very down-to-earth and well-mannered player. I am deeply saddened by his untimely death. Udayakumar was loved by many volleyball fans in Doha.

“He played in the Doha professional circuit for the Al Ahli, Al Arabi and Al Rayyan clubs during different seasons.”

It was Kanoo who was instrumental in bringing Udayakumar to Doha in the late 80s.

Doha’s Indian volleyball fraternity – Volleyball Loving Indians in Qatar (VoliQ) - took to Facebook in large numbers to pay their tributes to the former Indian captain.

Udayakumar had also served the Dubai Police as its coach and player for five years since 1992 before joining the Kerala Police force in the rank of a deputy commander.

The energetic officer - who was also a member of the organising committee of the National Games to be held in Kerala early next year - had given interviews to a couple of regional television channels before his death yesterday morning.

A recipient of the Arjuna Award, India’s top honour for sportspersons, in 1991, he was a member of the bronze medal winning team at the Seoul Olympics in 1986.

Excelling both in defence and attack, he led the Indian team in the 1989 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games and played in most championships including the Asiad during the 80s.

His body will lie in state at the Raj Bhavan at 9am Saturday and later at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium here before being taken to his Mararikulam village in Alappuzha district in the evening.

He leaves behind his wife Lekha and daughters, Anjali and Pallavi.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Overseas Keralite Affairs Minister K C Joseph and Education Minister P K Abdurabb paid their last respects to Udayakumar.