S. M. Hadi

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameSyed Mohammad "S. M."•Hadi
Used nameS. M.•Hadi
Nick/petnamesRainbow Hadi
Born12 August 1899 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (IND)
Died14 July 1971 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (IND)
NOC India

Biography

Syed Mohammad “S. M.” Hadi was an all-around sportsman who played football (soccer) as a youth at Nizam College in India. He was sent to Cambridge University, where he earned his Blue in football, hockey (field), and table tennis. Hadi later represented India in cricket and tennis. He was also proficient in riding and polo, and played chess at a high level.

Hadi played at Wimbledon seven times, in 1922-25, 1929, 1931, and 1933, making the third round of singles in 1922 and 1924, the third round of doubles in 1922, 1929, and 1931, and losing in the first round in his only two mixed doubles appearances, in 1924-25. Hadi also played Davis Cup for India in 1924-25, appearing in four ties, but losing all four of his matches. As a cricketer, Hadi played several first-class cricket matches in India. He was the first batsman to score a century in the Ranji Trophy. He continued to play for the Hyderabad XI in the Ranji Trophy till 1941.

Hadi later worked in sports administration, serving as the treasurer of the Indian team on their tour of England in 1936. In 1939-40, Hadi was one of the founding members of the Hyderabad Football Association and the Hyderabad Cricket Association. When the All-India Council of Sports was formed in 1959, Hadi was its first secretary. In addition to his MA from Cambridge, Hadi had earned a masters from the University of Pennsylvania. He served as Director of Physical Education in Hyderabad and eventually became Joint Secretary of Education in the Indian Government.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1924 Summer Olympics Tennis IND S. M. Hadi
Singles, Men (Olympic) =33
Doubles, Men (Olympic) Donald Rutnam =5

Special Notes