Remembering Manual Frederick: Keralas First Olympic Medalist in Hockey
Manual Frederick, Keralas first Olympic medalist, made history in hockey. He won bronze in 1972, showcasing his remarkable skills as a goalkeeper.
Kannur, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : Manual Frederick, a celebrated player of the Indian men’s hockey team, was born on October 20, 1947, in Kannur, Kerala. He played during a time when Indian hockey was at its peak globally. As a goalkeeper, Frederick was part of the Indian team that secured a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Frederick’s journey in sports began when he joined the army school team in Bengaluru. Before taking up hockey, he played football in his hometown of Kannur. He made his debut for India in 1971 and remained with the national team for seven years. Frederick also represented the country in two Hockey World Cups, held in the Netherlands in 1973 and Argentina in 1978. The Indian team won a silver medal in the Netherlands during his participation.
Notably, Frederick was the first athlete from Kerala to win an Olympic medal. The second was P. R. Sreejesh, who earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on August 5, 2021. Both medals for Kerala came from goalkeepers on the national hockey team.
Frederick enjoyed a successful club career as well, playing for teams such as ASC and HAL in Karnataka, as well as the Services and the renowned Mohun Bagan club. His exceptional and daring goalkeeping earned him the nickname “Tiger” among friends and teammates, particularly for his prowess in saving penalty strokes.
In recognition of his significant contributions to Indian sports, Frederick was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Award in 2019. He passed away in Bengaluru on October 31, 2025, at the age of 78.
