The IOC mourns the death of Randhir Singh, the Olympic flag will fly at half-mast for three days

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) mourned the death of veteran Indian sports administrator Randhir Singh on Wednesday, with the Olympic flag flying at half-mast at its headquarters for three days as a mark of respect.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry paid tribute to Singh for his “exceptional service to the Olympic movement”.

Singh died at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday after battling age-related ailments, it marked the end of an era in the country’s sporting landscape on which he left a lasting impact through his varied roles.

He was 79 years old and was hospitalized for several days before he breathed his last. He is survived by his wife Vinita and three daughters, Mahima, Sunaina and Rajeshwari, who is also a shooter.

“The IOC is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Honorary IOC Member Raj Randhir Singh… His passing is a great loss for the Olympic Movement. As a mark of respect, the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast at the Olympic House for three days,” the IOC said in a statement, paying tribute to Singh, who died as an Honorary IOC Member.

He served as a full-time member of the IOC from 2001 to 2014 before becoming an honorary member.

“Widely respected around the world, he was a five-time Olympian and one of the most influential figures in Asian sport who dedicated his life to the development of the Olympic movement in India, Asia and around the world. Through his extraordinary career, Raja Randhir Singh has become a central figure in the growth of the Olympic movement in India and Asia and a trusted voice in the global sports community,” added the IOC.

Coventry paid tribute to Singh, saying: “As an Olympian, as a member of the IOC and as a leader of Asian sport, he served the Olympic Movement with exceptional loyalty, wisdom and generosity for many decades. He will be remembered not only for his remarkable service and leadership, but also for his warmth, friendship and lifelong commitment to sport.

“On behalf of the International Olympic Committee, I offer my sincere condolences to his family, his friends and to everyone in the entire Olympic movement who had the honor of working with him,” she said.

The IOC recorded his achievements as a trap and skeet shooter representing India at five Olympic Games, Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984, while he was also a reserve shooter in Tokyo 1964.

“His sporting achievements included a gold medal in trap shooting at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, making him the first Asian Games shooting gold medalist, a landmark that helped inspire generations of shooters and laid the foundation for India’s rise as a global power in the sport. He later won bronze in the individual event and silver in the team event at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

“Indicative of what would become a lifelong commitment to sport, he was appointed Secretary-General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) while still actively competing, becoming the first person to compete in the Asian Games (1994) while simultaneously holding office in a continental sports organization.”

As a full member of the IOC and later an honorary member, Singh “contributed to a number of committees and initiatives, including serving as the IOC’s representative on the Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from 2003 to 2005”.

“Singh also served as the Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association for nearly three decades, playing a key role in shaping Indian sports at national and international levels. After serving as the OCA Secretary General from 1991 to 2015, he became Acting President in 2021 and led the organization with steady leadership through a particularly challenging period. He was then elected as the 4th President in 2020, serving as II

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Published on:

27 May 2026 22:46 IST