Manuel Frederick, hockey player and Kerala’s first Olympic medallist, passes away

Olympian Manuel Frederick, who gave wings to India’s hockey dreams and brought Kerala its first Olympic medal, passed away on Friday (October 31, 2025) morning at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He was battling cancer, which had reached its fourth stage.

Born and raised in Kannur, 78-year-old Manuel Frederick had been residing in Bengaluru for many years. A member of India’s bronze medal-winning hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, he was the first Malayali to win an Olympic medal. Known for his lightning-fast reflexes and aggressive as a goalkeeper, he was fondly called “The Ghost”, ‘Tiger’ by his fans.

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Despite his stellar performance, India conceded only goals in six matches in Munich- Frederick was overlooked for the Arjuna award at the time. It took nearly five decades for formal recognition, when he was honoured with the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2019 after eight previous rejections. He was also overlooked for Padmashri even after applying for past ten years.

Frederick’s legacy remains unmatched in Kerala’s Olympic history. Of the State’s three Olympic medals, one was won by him and the other two by P.R. Sreejesh, also a hockey goalkeeper at the 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics, both bronze medals.

Over his eight-year international career, Frederick represented India in one Olympics, two World Cups, and several tournaments, securing a silver medal in the 1973 World Cup in the Netherlands, a fourth-place finish in the 1978 Argentina World Cup, and victories in eight other international competitions.

After completing schooling in Kannur, Frederick joined the Indian Army in 1965 through the Army Sports Control Board and went on to play for the service, Mohun Bagan, and Bombay.

In an era before protective gear became common, Frederick guarded the goalpost with minimal equipment, relying purely on instinct and courage. His philosophy was simple: “If a defender makes a mistake, another can cover, but if a goalkeeper errors, it’s a goal, and if a goalkeeper leaves more than two goals, he is not fit to be a goalkeeper,” recalls sports commentator and close friend V. Devdas.

“Despite being the first Malayali to win a medal in the Olympics, the State government did not give him due recognition by giving the highest honour or naming a ground in his name,” Mr. Devdas said.

Mr. Devadas said even after retirement, he remained devoted to the sport, coaching young players in Bengaluru despite financial hardships, supported by his military and sports pensions. Though he was allotted land in Payyambalam, Kannur, in 2007, a house was built for him only in 2019 through the initiative of then Sport Minister E.P. Jayarajan.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, expressing his condolences, said that Manuel Frederick was one of the best goalkeepers in the world during the helmetless period of 1971-78. He brought laurel to the State and the country, and he shares the grief of his demise with his family members and sports enthusiasts.

His family informed that the mortal remains will be buried in Bengaluru on Saturday (October 1, 2025).