India participated in football at the world Olympics for the first time at London in 1948. Talimeren Ao was the unanimous choice to captain the Indian Football team. Playing barefoot, the Indian team made a good impression of their games. To thepuzzled interviewers who asked why they played barefoot, Dr. T. Ao had aready reply: "We play football and not bootball". India's prestige in footballwas beginning to rise. He again led the Indian team to the Far East in 1951.It will not be an exaggeration perhaps, to say that on account of players like him, the Indian football was at its best during those years.He passed the M.B.B.S. course in 1950 and joined the Medical College at Dibrugarh in 1952 as Registrar (ENT). He was posted as Asstt. Surgeon, Kohimaby the Govt. of Assam in 1953 when Nagaland was still a part of Assam.
His interest in sports has not diminished with the passage of time, nor by years of responsibility in service. In 1968-69 he was selected a member of the All India Football election Committee, and is at present a member of the All India Council of Sports. He is also a member of the Nagaland Sports Council. It is only fitting that a person who has contributed so much to further the cause of sports, should be honoured by a Trophy in his name.
(COURTESY: SOUVENIR 1ST NE DR. T AO FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT, 2009)
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