Footballer Talimeren Ao, independent India's first flag bearer in Olympics

Talimeren Ao was the first captain of the Indian football team in the Olympics. He captained the side in the 1948 London Olympics and also had the honour of being the independent India’s first flag bearer in the Olympics.  

Talimeren played for Kolkota’s football giant Mohan Bagan, before making it to the Indian squad.

He was born in Changki village in Nagaland (formerly undivided Assam) in the northeastern part of India near its border with Myanmar on January 28, 1918.

In 1950, while he was playing for Mohun Bagan and India, Ao completed his MBBS degree from Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, then known as Carmichael Medical College. He was the first Naga to get an MBBS.

In the 1948 Olympics, India lost to France in a close encounter (2-1). Most of the Indian players played barefoot.

He was also offered a contract to play for English football club Arsenal, bit he declined the offer to complete his MBBS degree.