Pune,  6 Jan 

Former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and senior sports administrator Suresh Kalmadi died at a hospital here early Tuesday. He was 81.

Kalmadi, who had been unwell for some time, Died around 3.30 am. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter-in-law, two married daughters, a son-in-law and grandchildren.

A dominant figure in Indian sports administration for over two decades, Kalmadi served as IOA president from 1996 to 2011, making him among the longest-serving heads of the country’s apex Olympic body.

Born in 1944, Kalmadi began his career as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force and participated in the 1965 and 1971 wars. He later entered politics, representing Pune in the Lok Sabha multiple times as a Congress leader, and served as a Union minister.

During his tenure at the IOA, India’s engagement with global sport expanded significantly. He also held key international roles, including president of the Asian Athletics Association and member of the IAAF Council.

One of the highlights of his period as IOA chief came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where shooter Abhinav Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold medal. Kalmadi also chaired the Organising Committee for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Beyond national and international sport, he was closely associated with the development of athletics and sports infrastructure in Pune, including initiatives such as the Pune International Marathon.