As 2020 nears its end, we look back at some of the most iconic athletes from all over the world who passed away this year but will remain immortal in our hearts.

Balbir Singh Sr

T 3543 - Legend Balbir Singh sr .. passes away .. his talent and his accomplishments on the Hockey field were legendary talk in my School days right from 1948 onwards .. what a champion .. condolences prayers ..
Indian Pride ..🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/1Yqm0wUsU2

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) May 26, 2020

The hockey legend and three-time Olympic gold medallist Balbir Singh Sr passed away at 95 in May after a blood clot had developed in his brain following a bronchial pneumonia with high fever.

Chuni Goswami

️ Tributes paid to the two 🇮🇳 Football legends - PK Banerjee and Chuni Goswami - who passed away earlier this year 🏻 pic.twitter.com/TcmbxiKfA2

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 27, 2020

The former captain of the Indian football team, Chuni Goswami was 82 and was dealing with underlying ailments like diabetes, prostate and nerve problems when he passed away after a cardiac arrest in Kolkata in April.

PK Banerjee

Very good gesture from ISL to show respect to the all time legends of Indian Football PK Banerjee and Chuni Goswami before the Derby !! pic.twitter.com/Mzcsi7KGpQ

— Gautam Bhattacharya (@gbsaltlake) November 27, 2020

The captain of the national football team during what is considered to be the ‘golden era’ of the sport in India, PK Banerjee left us full of sorrow when he breathed his last in March. A revered figure in Indian football, Banerjee had a history of Parkinson’s disease, dementia and heart problems.

Chetan Chauhan

Deeply saddened by the passing of former cricketer and UP minister, Shri Chetan Chauhan ji.

His death is a great loss for the Indian sports fraternity.

My sincere condolences to his family and fans.

Om Shanti! pic.twitter.com/fF52DMsnbB

— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) August 16, 2020

Former Indian cricketer and opening batsman Chetan Chauhan breathed his last after suffering a cardiac arrest in a Gurugram hospital. According to reports, he was tested COVID-positive which only worsened his condition. Chauhan was 73.

Kobe Bryant

The breaking news of the death of Kobe Bryant is truly sad. Few worked as hard as Kobe did and I modeled everything I do after that mindset. R.I.P. the great Kobe Bryant #NBALegend #NBA pic.twitter.com/yCnhx134GX

— SportsX (@Sportz_X) January 26, 2020

The Los Angeles Lakers legend and one of the best basketball players of all time, Kobe Bryant passed away in a horrible helicopter accident back in January. The crash also claimed the lives of 8 other members, including his teenage daughter Gianna Bryant.

Diego Maradona

BREAKING NEWS: Argentina legend Diego Armando Maradona has passed away at the age of 60, according to Argentina media outlet Clarin.

2020 is fucking mad. RIP to a legend. pic.twitter.com/RIpR5hW7E4

— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) November 25, 2020

The 60-year-old Diego Maradona left us heartbroken and in complete shock when news of his demise made headlines in November. The Argentine football legend defeated death a number of times in the past couple of years before succumbing to heart attack after complaining of feeling cold and looking pale, according to his nurse.

Purushotham Rai

RIP Coach

Former SAI coach Shri Purushotham Rai passed away on Friday,cardiac arrest.He was to be conferred Dronacharya Award today.

"We condole his tragic demise and express our condolences to his family.He spent his whole life for athletics,immense contribution," @Adille1 pic.twitter.com/nPoJfUmH7i

— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) August 29, 2020

An iconic coach in the history of Indian athletics, Purushotham Rai mentored names like quartermiler Vandana Rao, heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa, Ashwini Nachappa, Murali Kuttan, MK Asha, EB Shyla, Rosa Kutty and GG Pramila. Unfortunately, Rai succumbed to cardiac arrest one day before he was to be honoured with the Dronacharya award.

Rameshchandra Gangaram ‘Bapu’ Nadkarni

Very sad to hear about the demise of Shri Bapu Nadkarni. I grew up hearing about the record of him bowling 21 consecutive maiden overs in a Test. My condolences to his family and dear ones.
Rest in Peace Sir. pic.twitter.com/iXozzyPMLZ

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 17, 2020

The unsung hero of Indian cricket’s spin revolution, ‘Bapu’ Nadkarni’s left-arm spin remained unmatched in international cricket during his time at the top. He passed away at the age of 86 in January due to "old-age related problems," his son-in-law Vijay Khare said.

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