VETERAN SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR Raja Randhir Singh, a five-time Olympian, Asian Games gold medallist and former Arjuna Awardee, passed away on Wednesday. He was 79.
A renowned shooter and cousin of former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Randhir Singh belonged to the fourth generation of a distinguished sporting family from Patiala.
After retiring from competitive shooting in 1994, Randhir Singh devoted himself fully to sports administration and emerged as one of the most respected figures in the Olympic movement.
He served as the Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1987 to 2012 and was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 to 2014, before continuing as an honorary member.
Randhir Singh also held several key positions within the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), serving as secretary general from 1991 to 2015 and later as acting president from 2021.
In September 2024, he became the first Indian to be elected president of the OCA at the body’s 44th General Assembly in New Delhi. Though elected for a four-year term until 2028, his tenure ended prematurely earlier this year due to ill health.
Randhir Singh was also instrumental in bringing the 2010 Commonwealth Games to New Delhi and remained a prominent voice in Asian sport administration until his final years.
Known for his blunt and forthright style as an administrator, Randhir Singh represented India in shooting at five Olympic Games — Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984. He was also named a reserve shooter for the Tokyo 1964 Olympics.
He also represented India at the Asian Games in Bangkok (1978), New Delhi (1982), Seoul (1986) and Hiroshima (1994), besides competing at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton in 1978.
Among his major achievements, Randhir Singh won a gold medal at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games and secured bronze (individual) and silver (team) medals at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games.
“With deep sorrow, we share the sad news of the passing of Raja Randhir Singh, who left for his heavenly abode today. A distinguished Olympian, Arjuna Awardee and one of the most respected sports administrators in India, Asia, and the International Olympic Committee, Raja Randhir Singh made invaluable contributions to the development of shooting sports and the Olympic movement. The National Rifle Association of India and the entire shooting fraternity mourn this irreparable loss and extend heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones,” read a message shared across the Indian shooting fraternity.
