THE GURU OF BASKET BALL

Velandi Achuthan is remembered by Thalassery for his excellent peformances in Basketball. He started his career as a volleyball player. When he realised that he could perform better in basketball he shifted to basketball. In 1955, he represented Madras University and for the first time the University won the National Tournament in which he played a significant part. 

After his studies he became a Physical Education teacher at Thalassery Mubarak High School. Many of those groomed by him in Mubarrak School became state level players. They include Rajendran, Rasheed, K.K. Mohammed and K.C. Ummar. He also functioned as the coach of the Kerala School Basketball Team for 23 years and was the chairman of the school basketball selection committee for twelve years.