Sahu Mewalal
Encyclopedia
Sahu Mewalal was an Indian Olympian
footballer who plied his trade at Kolkata (then Calcutta). His playing position was striker
and he was known for his excellent fitness, bicycle kicks and goal scoring abilities.
in Bihar
. As a child, he shifted to Kolkata
with his father who was an employee at the Fort William
. who spent the rest of his life in Kolkata and worked with the railways . At the age of 18 he married Laxmi Devi Lal and had two children Kishan Lal and Gauri Devi . At the age of 60 his ba luck started after his daughter in law 's death.
In 2008 he got pneumonia his grandson Vevik Lal took him to SSKM Hospital Kolkata his addmison was at first refused but his area's councelor Faiyaz Ahmed Khan paid his admison. He died that November.
. He came in to the limelight in 1944 when he scored the winning goal for the IFA
XI against India XI. In 1945, he joined the 1st Division club Aryans. It was his hattrick for Aryans in the same year against Mohun Bagan in a Calcutta league match that impressed the then Mohun Bagan captain Sailen Manna
and in 1946 he joined Mohun Bagan under Manna. In 1947 he joined the Eastern Railway Football Club. After spending 8 years with them, he joined BNR Football Club. In 1958, while playing in an Inter-Railway tournament in Kharagpur
his knee was broken. This incident brought an end to Mewalal’s illustrious 20-year career.
During his club career, he scored more than 150 goals in the local league. He also scored 39 goals for Bengal in Santosh Trophy
including five hattricks. Mewalal was the top-scorer in the Calcutta Football League on four occasions. He achieved this feat in 1949, 1951 & 1954 for Eastern Railways and in 1958 for BNR. He also scored a record of 32 hattricks in local fottbal tournaments which record stands even today.
at the 1948 London Olympics and 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He also toured several European countries in the late 1940s as part of the Indian team. He also played for India in their tours of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Thailand in the 1950s.
Mewalal is best remembered in the international arena as the architect of Indian Gold medal winning effort in the 1951 Delhi Asian Games
. He scored in all the matches of the tournament for India and also scored the winning goal in India's 1-0 victory over Iran
in the final.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
footballer who plied his trade at Kolkata (then Calcutta). His playing position was striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and he was known for his excellent fitness, bicycle kicks and goal scoring abilities.
Personal life
Mewalal was born on 1 July 1926 at Daulatapur of Gaya DistrictGaya District
Gaya is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The district is having a common boundary with the Jharkhand state in the south. Gaya city is its largest city and the district headquarters.-History:...
in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. As a child, he shifted to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
with his father who was an employee at the Fort William
Fort William, India
Fort William is a fort built in Calcutta on the Eastern banks of the River Hooghly, the major distributary of the River Ganges, during the early years of the Bengal Presidency of British India. It was named after King William III of England...
. who spent the rest of his life in Kolkata and worked with the railways . At the age of 18 he married Laxmi Devi Lal and had two children Kishan Lal and Gauri Devi . At the age of 60 his ba luck started after his daughter in law 's death.
In 2008 he got pneumonia his grandson Vevik Lal took him to SSKM Hospital Kolkata his addmison was at first refused but his area's councelor Faiyaz Ahmed Khan paid his admison. He died that November.
Club career
Mewalal started his club career in 1938 with Khiddirpore Club which was then playing in the 2nd Division of Calcutta Football LeagueCalcutta Football League
Calcutta Football League is the football league where several football clubs of the Indian city of Kolkata participate. The CFL is now having a Seven League Division....
. He came in to the limelight in 1944 when he scored the winning goal for the IFA
Indian Football Association
The Indian Football Association , [abbreviated as IFA] is the organization that administers association football in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the oldest Football Association in India and was founded in 1893. Amongst the founders was former England international Elphinstone Jackson....
XI against India XI. In 1945, he joined the 1st Division club Aryans. It was his hattrick for Aryans in the same year against Mohun Bagan in a Calcutta league match that impressed the then Mohun Bagan captain Sailen Manna
Sailen Manna
Sailendra Nath Manna , known popularly as Sailen Manna, is an Indian International Footballer and is considered to be one of the best defenders India has ever produced. He has represented and captained India in different international competitions including Olympics and Asian Games...
and in 1946 he joined Mohun Bagan under Manna. In 1947 he joined the Eastern Railway Football Club. After spending 8 years with them, he joined BNR Football Club. In 1958, while playing in an Inter-Railway tournament in Kharagpur
Kharagpur
Kharagpur is an industrial city in India. It is located in the Midnapore West district of the state of West Bengal.Kharagpur was chosen as the location of the first campus of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology . The IITs are the premier technical education institutes in India and...
his knee was broken. This incident brought an end to Mewalal’s illustrious 20-year career.
During his club career, he scored more than 150 goals in the local league. He also scored 39 goals for Bengal in Santosh Trophy
Santosh Trophy
Santosh Trophy is an annual Indian football tournament which is contested by states and government institutions. The first winners were Bengal, who also lead the all-time winners list with 31 titles till date....
including five hattricks. Mewalal was the top-scorer in the Calcutta Football League on four occasions. He achieved this feat in 1949, 1951 & 1954 for Eastern Railways and in 1958 for BNR. He also scored a record of 32 hattricks in local fottbal tournaments which record stands even today.
International career
Mewalal represented IndiaIndia national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
at the 1948 London Olympics and 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He also toured several European countries in the late 1940s as part of the Indian team. He also played for India in their tours of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Thailand in the 1950s.
Mewalal is best remembered in the international arena as the architect of Indian Gold medal winning effort in the 1951 Delhi Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
. He scored in all the matches of the tournament for India and also scored the winning goal in India's 1-0 victory over Iran
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
in the final.