Jakarta. Former Indonesian badminton star Markis Kido, who won men’s doubles gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic, passed away on Monday evening at the age of 36.

A fellow badminton legend revealed the circumstances surrounding his death, saying Markis lost consciousness and fell to the ground in the middle of a game in Tangerang in the province of Banten before he was pronounced dead.

“We routinely play the sport every Monday evening and Markis has taken part most of the time. He looked no different when we met [prior to the incident],” Chandra Wijaya, also an Olympic medalist, told reporters.

“The setting of the game was relaxed and we occasionally shared jokes. He just completed the first game and moved to the other side of the court,” Chandra said.

“I was watching the game from behind him when he suddenly fell to the ground. We panicked and shocked because he lost consciousness and breathed heavily with snorting sounds,” he said, adding the incident occurred at around 6.30 p.m. at Petrolin Indoor Stadium in Tangerang, just south of Jakarta.

Several people inside the stadium came forward to give Markis first aid including by having him sit down, giving him water and pumping his chest, Chandra said.

Markis was then rushed to Omni Hospital in Tangerang and arrived there at around 7.15 p.m., but hospital staff said his heart had stopped beating. He died en route to the hospital.

Markis teamed up with Hendra Setiawan when the duo beat host players to win the Olympic gold medal and to assert their status as the world’s number one pair, having already won the world championship in the previous year.

“The big family of the Indonesian badminton is deeply saddened by the passing of Markis Kido, a hero who has repeatedly brought fame to our nation at the global stage. Our thoughts and prayer go to the loved ones,” Agung Firman Sampurna, chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), said in a statement.

“May his exemplary conduct, fighting spirit and exceptional achievements become an inspiring influence to all Indonesian badminton players.”

Markis is survived by his wife Richasari Pawestri and their two daughters.

His mother, Zul Asteria, was quoted on the PBSI website as saying: "It seems to me that his wish is [to die] on court."