Shanmugham leaves behind lasting legacy

BANGALORE: Life, for Thulukhanam Shanmugham, was as intense as a football game. Throughout his illustrious career, he braved hardships with perseverance, won recognition through hard work and lived a disciplined life by the rule book – virtues he learnt from the world's most played sport.
But late on Thursday, the final whistle was blown. The soft-spoken Olympian and Asiad gold medalist breathed his last after a prolonged illness at his residence in Indiranagar.He was 93.
Shanmugham approached football with the discipline and self-control that he brought to every aspect of his life. He had a dutiful fan following at the Bangalore Football Stadium, which he used to frequent for local league action.
Usually a reserved person, mention football and Shanmugham's eyes used to light up in excitement. "He becomes very animated when talking about football. His memory was sharp and people loved listening to his stories, how football was in the golden years," said Shanmugham's youngest grandson Dinesh.
Shanmugam's love for football began by dribbling tennis balls at the erstwhile Garrison Sports Ground (now Manekshaw Parade Ground). Fascinated by the dexterity with which the Englishmen were playing the sport, most of his school days were spent mastering the game in Austin Town, the hotbed of Bangalore football.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1951: Member of the gold-medal winning Asian Games team.
1952: Part of the Helsinki Olympics team. Played against Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany