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Sporting World Mourns Death of Former Olympian and Sports Administrator Raja Randhir Singh
The former Indian shooter was a five-time Olympian and served as Olympic Council of Asia president before poor health ended his term early.
Raja Randhir Singh, India's first Asian Games shooting gold medalist, died today at age 79, the National Rifle Association of India announced. Secretary Rajiv Bhatia confirmed the passing in a statement.
Born October 18, 1946, in Patiala into a sporting dynasty, Randhir claimed trap gold at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games, becoming India's first Asian Games shooting gold medalist. He competed in five Olympic Games from 1964 to 1984.
Randhir served as Indian Olympic Association Secretary General from 1987 to 2012, a 25-year tenure navigating political battles and Olympic suspensions. He later led the Olympic Council of Asia as Secretary General from 1991 to 2015, becoming the first Indian elected OCA president in 2024.
The shooting fraternity mourned Randhir as an irreplaceable figure, with the National Rifle Association extending condolences to his family. An Arjuna Awardee, he was recognized as one of Asia's most respected sports administrators who shaped Olympic diplomacy for decades.
Randhir transcended his roles as athlete and administrator to become a bridge figure spanning from princely India to Olympic boardrooms in Lausanne. Few Indians occupied so many institutional layers across sport; away from politics, he preserved over 1,000 royal Patiala recipes and was remembered as a generous host.