Randhir Singh, India’s first Asiad shooting gold medallist, passes away at 79

NEW DELHI: Veteran sports head and erstwhile shooter Randhir Singh passed distant connected Wednesday astatine the property of 79 aft battling age-related wellness issues. He had been hospitalised for respective days earlier breathing his past astatine his residence.Singh was 1 of India’s astir respected names successful some sports and sports administration. He precocious stepped down arsenic President of the Olympic Council of Asia owed to wellness concerns, little than 2 years aft being elected to the relation successful 2024.

The quality of his decease was confirmed by National Rifle Association of India caput Rajiv Bhatia."With heavy sorrow, we stock the bittersweet quality of the passing of Raja Randhir Singh, who near for his heavenly abode today, connected 27th May 2026," Rajiv Bhatia stated, arsenic quoted by quality bureau PTI.Randhir Singh made past by becoming India’s archetypal shooting golden medallist astatine the Asian Games erstwhile helium won the trap lawsuit successful Bangkok successful 1978. He besides represented India astatine 5 Olympic Games during his agelong shooting vocation and received the prestigious Arjuna Award for his achievements.After retiring from progressive sport, Singh built a palmy administrative vocation and became 1 of India’s astir influential sports officials. He served arsenic Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association and was besides a subordinate of the International Olympic Committee.

Paying tribute to his contribution, Bhatia said, "A distinguished Olympian, Arjuna Awardee, and 1 of the astir respected sports administrators successful India, Asia, and the International Olympic Committee, Raja Randhir Singh, made invaluable contributions to the improvement of shooting sports and the Olympic movement."Olympic golden medallist Abhinav Bindra besides paid tribute to the legend, penning connected X, "Deeply saddened to perceive of the passing of Raja Randhir Singh ji. He lived a beingness devoted to athletics arsenic an Olympian, arsenic a sports administrator, and arsenic idiosyncratic who contributed immensely to Indian and World sport. His bequest volition stay an important portion of our sporting history. My heartfelt condolences to his household and loved ones."