T. Abdul Rahman (1934 – 15 December 2002), popularly known as Olympian Rahman, was an Indian Olympian

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 from Kozhikode

Kozhikode

Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...

, Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. His playing position was defender

Defender (association football)

Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

. Rahman was a member of the Indian team that reached the semi-final in 1956 Melbourne Olympics

1956 Summer Olympics

The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...

.

Career

Rahman was born in Kozhikode; he began his club career in the early 50's by playing for local clubs in Calicut. He went on to play for many leading football clubs in India including Rajasthan Club and Mohun Bagan Club of Kolkata. He spearheaded the Mohun Bagan defense during 50's and the 60's and was the captain of the Kolkata club. Rahman represented India at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics where India achieved a fourth place finish.

Olympian Rahman Memorial Academy of Football

Rahman died on 15 December 2002 in Calicut at the age of 68. After his death the football lovers of Kozhikode has demanded the setting up of a sports academy in memory of Olympian Rahman. In 2005 'Kozhikode District Football Association' (KDFA) had set up an academy in Kozhikode in memory of Olympian T. Abdul Rehman. The aim of the Olympian Rehman Memorial Academy of Football is to promote young talent in Kerala especially in the Malabar region.

There was also a demand to name the Kozhikode Corporation Stadium in memory of the Olympian Abdul Rahman.

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