Chennai, March 23 Veteran Indian sports journalist S Thyagarajan, who carved a niche for himself with his extensive coverage of hockey, died here on Monday after battling age-related ailments.
He was 85 years old. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
His cremation took place in Chennai on Monday.
Thyagarajan, who covered six Olympics and nine Asian Games, served 'The Hindu' newspaper from 1962 to 2013 before his retirement. He started his career with 'The Indian Express' in 1961.
"S. Thyagarajan, a veteran sports correspondent and a leading figure in hockey writing, who worked with The Hindu for many decades, has passed away," K C Vijaya Kumar, sports editor of 'The Hindu', posted on 'X'.
Thyagarajan also served on the media and communications-related committees of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) during his journalistic career.
He was a former president of both the Sports Journalist Federation of India and the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists Association.
Former India captain-cum-coach and 1980 Olympic gold medallist Vasudevan Baskaran was deeply saddened by Thyagarajan's passing, as he had covered Baskaran's entire career and provided him with support throughout.
"When I started playing hockey in 1969, he was covering the sport and writing for The Hindu. That's how he gained prominence. His dedication, love, and knowledge of the sport were remarkable," Baskaran told