Some facts about TN hockey players

Ernest John Goodsir-Cullen, a Madras Medical College student, is the first Tamil Nadu hockey Olympian (1936).

MJ Gopalan is the first International (1935 New Zealand Test Series in New Zealand).

Ranganathan Francis (gk) is the first triple Olympian from Tamil Nadu.

Same Francis is the only TN player to win triple Olympic Gold.

VJ Philips is the first TN player to captain India (1977)

Vasudevan Baskaran is the only TN player to lead India to Olympic gold (1980).

Tami Nadu is the only State to host the National Championship for a record nine times.

Adam Sinclair is the last Olympian from Tamil Nadu

VJ Peter is the first Tamil Nadu player to get Arjuna (1967).

Excerpts from the book ‘Tamil Nadu Hockey Players’ written by K. Arumugam.