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.

THALASSERY AND HOCKEY

Hockey also became popular along with Cricket in Thalassery. Those who played cricket in the day time played hockey in the evenings. The umpire of both games was Sunny Master. The roots of hockey can be traced to the British era. The town hockey club and Catholic Hockey Club moulded the players. The hcokey's stars of those days were Alfred Rodericlues, Thamburam Kandi Anandhan and M.A. Ramarishnan.

Players started organising on a league basis after the formation of the Thalasser United Athletic Club. In 1950 the Thalassery District Hockey Association was formed. The Thalassery St. Josephs Boys High School has contributed several starts to the state. Thalassery is also indebted to M.A. Ratnakaran for the growth of Hockey. M.A. Shivaram and A.P. Sunil were captains of the State Hockey Team.

THE CHESS MOVES IN THALASSERY

Chess was born in Thalasery in 1974. After the formation of the Thalasery's Chess Club tournaments were organised at the junior and senior levels. Chess progressed in Thalassery under the leadership of N.N. Ahmed Haji. The Thalassery Taj Lodge which he owned became a centre for players in Thalassery.

As the facilities were readily available many players used to reach Thalassery in the weekends and holidays to play the game. One well known player was C.P. Chandhu Nair who invited several players to Thalassery. One of the milestones in the history of Chess in Kerala was the State Chess Championship organised in 1976. A. Shasshidharan of the Thalassery Chess Club was crowned the 'Chess King'. Those who earned fame for Thalassery in chess include V.P. Balaram, K.V. Mohanan and others. Thalassery also hosted the junior and sub junior championships.

THE STRIDES IN FOOTBALL

Both football and cricket took off at the same time in Thalassery. The first football club in India i

tself was found in Thalassery. This club was found in 1860. BEMP School teacher J.D. Sathyanathan,

C.K.P. Kadherkutty and C.P. Hameed functioned office bearers of the club. The presence of fottballers l

ike Annan Mukundhan, Dhamu Pachene Kumaran, Viyanadan Sankaran, O.V. Amarnath and 

Krikil Koru was a source of inspiration for people in Thalassery.

One of the footballer Hammed was the member of the States School Team. The only living member o

f the Thalassery footabll club is Garjan Obuty. The first player from Thalassery to participate in the S

anthosh Trophy was V.B. Ishak. He played for FACT for ten year and was the captain for three years.

Ishak is now the Secretary of the Kannur District Gymnastick Association.