Talimeran Ao

Talimeran Ao

Personal information
Date of birth	January 28, 1918(1918-01-28)
Place of birth	Chanki, Nagaland, India
Date of death	September 13, 1998(1998-09-13) (aged 80)
Place of death	Kohima, Nagaland, India
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1943–1952	Mohun Bagan
National team
1948–1951	India	6	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Talimaran Ao (January 28, 1918 — September 13, 1998) was an Indian footballer. He played and was captain in the first official game in the history of the India national football team, as well as professional footballer for nearly nine years, all with Mohun Bagan.

Career

Mohun Bagan

Talimeran was born on January 28 1918 in Nagaland. In 1943 Ao joined Mohun Bagan who were then in the Calcutta Football League. He was given the captains armband in 1948. In 1950 Ao captained Bagan in the Durand Cup but lost to Hyderabad Police in the final 1-0.

International

In 1948 a year before India won its independence Ao led the India national football team into the 1948 Summer Olympics as captain. In India's first match against France the team lost 2-1 with the India goal coming from Sarangapani Raman. Later he played five more matches for India before retiring.

Later Life

After retiring from the game Ao studied medicine at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. After completing his MBBS, he went back to Nagaland. There he became the director of Nagaland Health Service in 1978. He is also remembered for promoting sports in North East India. In 2002 Mohun Bagan honored him with the Mohun Bagan Ratna Award.

In 1998, he died at the age of 80.