Suresh Kalmadi, Former IOA President and Veteran Sports Administrator, Dies at 81
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Firstpost•06-01-2026, 12:03
Suresh Kalmadi, Former IOA President and Veteran Sports Administrator, Dies at 81
- •Suresh Kalmadi, former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president, passed away at 81 in Pune.
- •He served as IOA president from 1996 to 2011, making him one of the longest-serving heads.
- •A former fighter pilot, Kalmadi was also a Congress leader, Union minister, and Asian Athletics Association president.
- •Chaired the Organising Committee for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and was IOA president during Abhinav Bindra's Olympic gold.
- •Played a key role in Pune's sports infrastructure development and the Pune International Marathon.
Why It Matters: Suresh Kalmadi, a towering figure in Indian sports and politics, died at 81, leaving a significant legacy.
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