India's first Asian Games shooting gold medallist Raja Randhir Singh passes away at 79
PTC News Desk: Veteran sports administrator and India’s first Asian Games shooting gold medallist Randhir Singh died on Wednesday after prolonged age-related ailments.
He breathed his last at the age of 79. Singh is survived by his wife Vinita and daughters Mahima, Sunaina and Rajeshwari.
“He had a brain stroke earlier and could not recover. He died this morning at about 10.30am in Delhi. The cremation will be held at Haridwar tomorrow. It’s a huge loss for shooting and the Olympic movement. We were together in Indian trap team for more than 20 years and our friendship completed 50 years this year,” Gurbir Singh Sandhu, former president, Punjab Shooting Association, and father of Former world champion Manavjit Sandhu
Born in the Royal family of Patiala, Randhir Singh was one of the most influential figures in the country's Olympic movement with a distinguished shooting career and first Indian shooter to win gold at the Asian Games after claiming the top position in the trap event.
Randhir Singh left an indelible mark in spoorts fraternity and an enduring legacy both as a decorated athlete and a powerful administrator.
While he was competing as a shooter, he forayed into sports administration and became the Secretary General of the Olympic Council of Asia. During his last international competition in 1994, he became the first person to compete in the Asian Games while being an office bearer in a continental sports organisation.
Singh had recently stepped down as President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) citing health concerns. Earlier he had served the organisation for more than two decades including as Secretary Genral from 1991 to 2015.
- With inputs from agencies
