Talimeren Ao - Indian who rejected Arsenal
Here is the story of an Indian footballer who rejected Arsenal to fulfil his father’s wish. Born in 1918, Talimeren Ao captivated football fans with his skill and determination. Ao’s reputation as a talented player earned him a place in the Mohun Bagan squad in 1943. He went on to lead the club years later. Talimeren was the first-ever captain of independent India in an official international match at the 1948 London Olympics. Interestingly, on his way back, Ao received an offer that any footballer would dream of—a chance to play for the legendary Arsenal Football Club. The Indian, however, had different plans. Talimeren saw his father die of typhoid when he was young, and his father’s last wish was to see him as a doctor. Ao remembered his promise to his late father and turned down the offer. Instead, he chose to continue his career in medicine. Dr. Talimeren Ao completed his MBBS in 1950 and spent the rest of his life serving his countrymen. A true legend on and off the pitch.
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