Vasudevan Baskaran is a legendary former field hockey player and coach from Tamil Nadu, India. He captained the Indian national hockey team to a historic gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, a momentous achievement in Indian sports history. Baskaran's illustrious career includes numerous accolades, such as the Arjuna Award in 1979 and the Padma Shri in 1981, recognizing his outstanding contributions to Indian sports. He was also honored with the Indian Sports Journalist Award for Best Sportsman of 1983 and the Best Sports Person Award from Indian Railways in 1981.
His remarkable career includes significant performances in tournaments such as the 2nd World Cup (1973), Olympic Games (1976), Asian Games (1978), World Cup (1978), Champions Trophy (1978), and the Pre-Olympic Games (1979), culminating in his triumphant leadership in the 1980 Olympics. As a coach and player, Vasudevan Baskaran remains one of India's most iconic figures in the world of field hockey.