TRIBUTE TO OLYMPIAN LT COL RAJAN
09/10/2017
Lt. Col. M. Rajan(83), former services & Indian basketball coach passed away at a Private Hospital in Kozhikode, He was living his retired life at his residence in Chovayoor in Kozhikode. He was survived by his Wife Usha and 2 sons Rajesh Makolath (Manager Godrej Chennai) Jithesh Makolath (Marketing Manager in Bahrain) The body will be cremated in Mavoor Road Crematorium at Mavoor Road Kozhikode at 4 pm 9th October 2017.
He was the coach of Indian Men’s team 32 years ago, at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, India was amongst the 12 finalists in the Men’s basketball tournament. This was that first – and last – time that India played basketball at the Olympics. It was a last-place finish for the Indian squad who wasn’t even expected to be there, but for a country that has had no Olympic basketball exposure before or since, the Last Placed Legends of ’80 rank First in the country’s basketball history
He made the Services team victorious in National Championships 21 times when he was the coach. He was also the chief coach of the Indian team in Moscow Olympics, Delhi Asian Games & ABCS. He was decorated with the Vishista Seva Medal (VSM)
He also served as the Joint Secretary of Basketball Federation of India, Director with Sports Authority of India Indoor National basketball Academy Director etc
He is also a man who showed that yoga can be combined to sports to the world, a once driving force of several successful basketball players, an astute gentleman, a soldier and a true patriot, a visionary and mentor who had groomed sports administrator’s, academicians and an array of other distinguished professionals including Members of Parliament.
A good heart has stopped beating a good soul ascended to heaven as Kerala Basketball Association part with the family of Olympian Lt Col Rajan in pain