Ranganathan Francis

Ranganathan Francis, also known as Aranganathan (15 March 1920 – 1 December 1975), was an Indian field hockey player who played as a goalkeeper. He was member of the Indian team that won gold medals at three consecutive Olympic games: 1948, 1952, and 1956.[1][2]

Ranganathan Francis
Personal information
Born Manickam
(1920-03-15)15 March 1920
Rangoon, Burma, British India
Died 1 December 1975(1975-12-01) (aged 55)
Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India
Playing position Goalkeeper
Senior career
Years Team
Madras
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
India
Medal record
Men's field hockey
Olympic Games
Representing  India
Gold medal – first place1948 LondonTeam
Gold medal – first place1952 HelsinkiTeam
Gold medal – first place1956 MelbourneTeam

Biography

Francis was born on 15 March 1920 into a Hindu family as Manickam in Rangoon, British Burma. He moved to Tamil Nadu, India, just before the India's independence, and converted to Christianity, changing his name as Ranganathan Francis.[3] Francis died on 1 December 1975 at the age of 55.

Career

Francis pursued his career as a hockey player with Madras Police and made it to the India national team. He represented India at the Olympics in 1948, 1952 and 1956.[4]

Francis first came to prominence after his tour of Africa in 1947 with the Indian team led by Dhyan Chand.[5] Francis served as a substitute goalkeeper for Leo Pinto in his maiden Olympic appearance, in 1948, when India beat Great Britain 4–0 in the final to clinch gold.[6][7] He was also part of the Indian team which secured gold medal in the final against the Netherlands where India registered a comfortable 6–1 win during the 1952 Summer Olympics.[8] Francis served as a second goalkeeper besides Shankar Laxman at the 1956 Summer Olympics where India claimed gold defeating neighbours arch-rivals Pakistan 1–0 in the final.[9][10] Francis was part of the Indian squad that toured Malaya and Singapore in 1954.[5][11]

Francis also went on to equal the record of Richard Allen for being the only Indian goalkeepers among the seven players to have won three Olympic gold medals. He also became only the second Indian hockey goalkeeper after Allen to feature in three Olympic Games. Francis also served as a policeman in Madras Police division and retired from the police service in 1968.[3]

Legacy

He was referred to as Singam by many on the play field during his peak career. He was also nicknamed as 'Titan between the Posts' as he was regarded as a very good technician during his playing days who came way out of his gate when the Indian team attacked and acted as a defender.[3]

Tamil Nadu also started conducting Inspector Francis Memorial Hockey Tournament among schools, a tournament named after the veteran Ranganathan Francis.[3]

In April 2019, musical sports drama film Natpe Thunai was released which was partially based on the true life story of Ranganathan Francis. However, he was referred to as Aranganathan in the film.[12]

In October 2020, it was revealed that Chennai Hockey Association passed a resolution to rename the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium which is situated in Egmore as Olympiam Francis Hockey Stadium in honour of late Ranganathan Francis.[13]

References
  1. "Olympedia – Ranganathan Francis". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  2. "Ranganathan Francis Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". 1 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  3. Kumar, S. Vijay (23 September 2020). "Family of Olympian languishing in poverty". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  4. "Ranganandhan FRANCIS - Olympic Hockey | India". International Olympic Committee. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  5. "Indian Hockey Fed. Team Arrive Tuesday". The Straits Times. 3 February 1954. p. 13. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  6. "Hockey at the 1948 London Summer Games: Men's Hockey | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  7. "On this day: India bags first Olympic hockey gold post independence". Sportstar. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. "Hockey at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games: Men's Hockey | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". 29 July 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. "Hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Men's Hockey | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". 29 July 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  10. "Melbourne 1956: Indian hockey's record breakers earn sixth Olympic gold". Olympic Channel. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  11. "The Indians succeed in their mission". The Straits Times. 11 March 1954. p. 14. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  12. ஏப் 05, பதிவு செய்த நாள். "நட்பே துணை". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  13. "Chennai hockey stadium set to be renamed after forgotten TN Olympian Francis - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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