Randhir Singh, India’s first Asian Games gold medalist, died at the age of 79
Sports veteran Randhir Singh, the first Asian Games gold medalist and one of the most influential figures in the Olympic movement there, died on Wednesday at the age of 79 after battling age-related ailments.
Singh was hospitalized for several days before he died at his residence. He is survived by his wife Vinita and daughters Mahima, Sunaina and Rajeshwari.
His death marks the end of an era in Indian sports where he left a lasting legacy as both a decorated athlete and a powerful administrator.
Singh only recently stepped down as president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) due to health issues. Elected to office in 2024 for a four-year termhe has already served the organization for more than two decades, including as Secretary General from 1991 to 2015.
“It is with deep sorrow that we share the sad news of the passing away of Raji Randhir Singh who passed away today, May 27, 2026,” National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) secretary Rajiv Bhatia said in a statement.
“A distinguished Olympian, Arjuna awardee and one of the most respected sports administrators in India, Asia and the International Olympic Committee, Raja Randhir Singh has made invaluable contributions to the development of shooting sports and the Olympic movement.”
Born into the erstwhile royal family of Patiala as a descendant of erstwhile Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, Randhir Singh has carved his own path in Indian sports with his excellent shooting. His crowning sporting achievement came at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok where he won gold in trap and became India’s first shooting gold medalist at a continental event. This feat won him the Arjuna Award in 1979.
His Olympic journey spanned decades. He was part of the Indian contingent as a reserve in Tokyo 1964 before competing in Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984.
If his competitive career was different, his administrative impact was probably even greater.
Singh served as the Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1987 to 2010 and held various roles within the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 to 2014. In 2003, he also represented the IOC at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), further cementing his position in the global governance of sport.
Widely respected for his ability to build consensus in India’s often fractured sports administration, Singh played a central role in promoting the country’s Olympic movement and shaping policy at the highest levels.
His sporting legacy continues through his family. Daughter Rajeshwari Singh followed him into shooting, winning silver at the 2022 Asian Games and gold at the 2016 Asian Championships, while Sunaina Singh established herself in sports administration and currently serves as the vice-president of the IOA.
Randhir Singh’s passing closes a defining chapter in Indian sport – one marked by medals, leadership and decades of behind-the-scenes influence.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
May 27, 2026 1:44 PM IST