Cheruvari Kottieth "C. K." Lakshmanan (5 April 1898 – 3 October 1970) was an Indian sportsman and activist. He represented
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
in the
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIIe olympiade) and also known as Paris 1924, were an international multi-sport event held in Paris, France. The op ...
held in Paris. He participated in the
hurdles
Hurdling is the act of jumping over an obstacle at a high speed or in a sprint. In the early 19th century, hurdlers ran at and jumped over each hurdle (sometimes known as 'burgles'), landing on both feet and checking their forward motion. Today, ...
event but did not win a medal.
Part of the eight-member Indian contingent that represented the country at the 1924 Olympics, Lakshmanan was the first
Malayali
The Malayali people () (also spelt Malayalee and also known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala in India, occupying its southwestern Malabar coast. They are predomina ...
to participate in an Olympic event. In the same year, he won gold in the 120-yard hurdles at the first National Athletic Meet in Delhi in 1924. He also played
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by st ...
at the
first-class level between 1925–26 and 1930–31.
Lakshmanan later served in the
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four ...
as a
major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
and subsequently as the director-general of the
Indian Red Cross Society
The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) is a voluntary humanitarian organization to protect human life and health based in India. It is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and shares the Fundamental Principles of the Intern ...
. He died on 3 October 1970 in
New Delhi
New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the NCT Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati B ...
.
See also
List of Kerala Olympians
This is a list of Keralites who have represented India in the Olympic Games.
List of Kerala Olympians
References
{{reflist
Olympians
Kerala, List of Olympians
Olympians, Kerala
Olympians
Kerala, List of Olympians ...
References
External links
*
1898 births
1970 deaths
Olympic athletes of India
Athletes (track and field) at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Sportspeople from Kannur
Indian male hurdlers
Athletes from Kerala
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