Ranganathan Francis

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Ranganathan Francis
Personal information
Birth nameManickam
Born(1920-03-15)15 March 1920
Rangoon, Myanmar
Died1 December 1975(1975-12-01) (aged 55)
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Medal record
Men's field hockey
Olympic Games
Representing  India
Gold medal – first place 1948 London Team Competition
Gold medal – first place 1952 Helsinki Team Competition
Gold medal – first place 1956 Melbourne Team Competition

Ranganathan Francis also known as Aranganathan (15 March 1920 – 1 December 1975) was an Indian field hockey player who represented India at international competitions and won three gold medals in the 1948 Summer Olympics, 1952 Summer Olympics, and 1956 Summer Olympics.[1][2]

Biography[edit]

He was born on 15 March 1920 as Manickam in Rangoon, Myanmar. He moved to Tamil Nadu just before the independence from the British Empire. He later converted from Hinduism to Christianity and he changed his name as Ranganathan Francis.[3] He had one son Christi Roy who became a policeman after joining the Tamil Nadu police as a police constable. Christi Roy died in 2007 at the age of 45.[3] Francis died on 1 December 1975 at the age of 55.

Career[edit]

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

He served as a substitute goalkeeper for Leo Pinto in his maiden Olympic appearance which eventually came during the 1948 Summer Olympics where India thrashed Great Britain 4-0 in the final to clinch gold.[5][6] 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.[7] He 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.[8][9]

He also went onto equal the record of Richard Allen for being the only Indian goalkeepers among the seven hockey players to have won three Olympic gold medals. He also became only the second Indian hockey goalkeeper after Richard James 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[edit]

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.[10]

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.[11]

References[edit]

  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. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 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. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ Sportstar, Team. "On this day: India bags first Olympic hockey gold post independence". Sportstar. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "Melbourne 1956: Indian hockey's record breakers earn sixth Olympic gold". Olympic Channel. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  10. ↑ ஏப் 05, பதிவு செய்த நாள்; 2019 10:48. "நட்பே துணை". Dinamalar (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 9 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "Chennai hockey stadium set to be renamed after forgotten TN Olympian Francis - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 April 2021.

External links[edit]

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