Muniswamy Rajgopal

{{Short description|Indian field hockey player (1926–2004)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}

{{Infobox field hockey player

| name = Muniswamy Rajgopal

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| full_name =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|03|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore
(now in Karnataka, India)

| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|3|3|1926|3|24|df=yes}}

| death_place = Bangalore, India

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 =

| clubs1 = Hindustan Aircraft

| years2 =

| clubs2 =

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = India

| nationalcaps(goals)1 =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Men's field hockey}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fhm|India}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} File:Olympic rings.svg

{{MedalGold|1952 Helsinki|Team competition}}

}}

Muniswamy Rajgopal (24 March 1926 – 3 March 2004){{cite web |title=March Birthday Listings |url=http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/janmadin/march.htm |publisher=bharatiyahockey.org |access-date=24 May 2022}} was an Indian field hockey player. He was a member of the India national team that won gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He was from his home State of Mysore (now Karnataka) to win an Olympic medal.{{cite web |last1=Chander |first1=N. J. Ravi |title=How I came to love hockey |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/right-in-the-middle/how-i-came-to-love-hockey-864449.html |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=24 May 2022 |language=en |date=23 July 2020}}

Rajgopal was a versatile player and played as a wing forward or inside-right on either wings.{{cite news |title=INDIAN HOCKEY FED. TEAM ARRIVE TUESDAY |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19540203-1.2.177 |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=The Straits Times |date=3 February 1954 |page=13 |language=en-SG}}{{cite news |title=India hockey tourists establish their class |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19540215-1.2.142 |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=The Straits Times |date=15 February 1954 |page=12 |language=en-SG}} He was nicknamed 'the artful dodger' for his stickwork. Rajgopal's contributions to hockey was recognized with Karnataka's Rajyotsava Award in 2000.