Manuel Frederick, India's Wall at the 1972 Olympics, Passes Away
- Manuel Frederick was the goalkeeper of India’s bronze-winning hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
- He represented India for seven years and received the Dhyan Chand Award in 2019 for his contributions to hockey.
- The Kannur-born sportsman passed away at 78 in Bengaluru after battling cancer.
Manuel Frederick, Kerala’s first Olympic medallist in hockey, passed away on Friday morning at a hospital in Bengaluru, where he was undergoing treatment for cancer. He was 78.
Born on October 20, 1947, in Kannur district, Frederick made history as the goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team that won the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics by defeating Holland. His remarkable reflexes and consistency made him one of the finest goalkeepers of his time.
Frederick represented India for seven years, playing in several international tournaments, and earned the Dhyan Chand Award in 2019 for his outstanding contribution to the sport. He also played a key role in helping his team win 16 national championships, many of which were decided in tiebreakers a testament to his nerves of steel.
Interestingly, Frederick began his sporting journey as a football striker before switching to hockey during his school days at St. Michael’s School in Kannur. His dedication and natural talent soon made him a star in Indian hockey, debuting in the Bombay Gold Cup at just 17 and later representing India in 1971.
He is survived by his two daughters.
