Indian shooting legend Raja Randhir Singh dies at 79

Raja Randhir Singh, a pioneering Indian shooter and one of the nation's most influential sports administrators, died in New Delhi on Wednesday after a prolonged illness. He was 79.

Singh, who was India's first shooting gold medalist at the Asian Games, passed away at his residence following several days of hospitalization. His death marks the end of a career that spanned over six decades, first as an elite athlete and later as a key figure in Olympic governance.

Born into the royal family of Patiala on October 18, 1946, Singh was a five-time Olympian, competing in the Games from 1968 to 1984 after being a reserve shooter in 1964. His crowning athletic achievement came at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, where he won the trap gold medal, a feat for which he received the Arjuna Award the following year. He also secured a bronze in individual trap and a silver in team trap at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

Following his competitive career, Singh transitioned into sports administration, where his impact became even more profound. He served as the Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association from 1987 to 2012, a period marked by significant change and occasional turmoil in...