According to his former teammate Kevin Nunis, Ponnudurai died at his home in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, two months after his discharge from Putrajaya Hospital.

A dejected Kevin told Bernama that Ponnudurai had a history of heart attacks and strokes.

“I have known him since 1978. He was my good friend and we frequently met for breakfast and lunch,” he said.

According to Kevin, Ponnudurai’s hockey journey began in 1975 in the National Hockey League.

“He played in the European Tour in 1978 against Ireland, England and Wales, and I also played alongside him in tournaments in Germany, Singapore, India and Pakistan from 1978 to 1980,” he added.

However, Ponnudurai was dropped from the final squad for the 1979 Junior World Cup in France at the last minute.

After the wake at his residence in Nilai, he will be cremated at the DBKL Crematorium in Cheras tomorrow.