Senior Congress leader and former Union minister, Suresh Kalmadi, passed away in Pune early Tuesday at the age of 81, his family said.
Kalmadi had been battling illness since some time, sources said. He breathed his last at around 3.30 am.
Having served as a president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1996 to 2011, he was one of the longest-serving heads of the country’s apex Olympic body. Besides being considered a towering figure in Indian sports administration, Kalmadi was also a former Union Minister of State for Railways and represented Pune in the Lok Sabha numerous times.
Born in 1944, he began his professional life as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, taking part in both the 1965 and 1971 wars, before entering politics and sports administration.
He also served as president of the Asian Athletics Association and was a member of the IAAF Council, making him one of India’s most powerful sports administrators internationally.
Under his IOA tenure, India achieved a historic breakthrough at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when shooter Abhinav Bindra won the country’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medal. He was also the Chairman of the Organising Committee when Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010, even though the event itself was mired in controversies due to allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
He was also closely associated with initiatives such as the Pune International Marathon, which became a regular fixture on the Indian road-running calendar.
Former Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Secretary and Kalmadi’s long-time associate, Lalit Bhanot, called Kalmadi’s death a “personal loss”, saying the former Congress MP’s role in the growth of Indian sport was unparalleled.
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“It is sad to hear the sudden demise of our beloved friend and sports leader. His contribution to uplift Indian sports will be remembered,” said Bhanot, who is currently AFI’s planning commission chief.
Former IOA secretary general, Rajeev Mehta, who had worked closely with Kalmadi, also condoled his death, saying he was a “wonderful person” and a “great sports administrator”.
“I convey my condolences to his family and all supporters. It is personal loss. we will miss him always RIP,” said Mehta, who served as secretary general of IOA for 8 years from 2014 to 2022, and is the current secretary general of the Fencing Association of India.
Mehta also credited Kalmadi for the creation of Olympic Bhawan, saying it “stands as a lasting symbol of his vision and commitment to building strong institutions for Indian sport”.
Adille Sumariwalla, vice president of World Athletics and spokesperson of the AFI, expressed his sorrow on Kalmadi’s death on X, saying the latter was a “giant sports administrator”.
Kalmadi is survived by his wife, a son and daughter-in-law, two married daughters and a son-in-law, as well as grandchildren.
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