Suresh Kalmadi: prominent political figure and sports administrator

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Suresh Kalmadi passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the age of 81, after a long illness.

A former Air Force politician turned sports executive; During Kalmadi’s term as president of the Indian Olympic Committee, Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010. It was arguably one of the best medal hauls for India at the CWG, but its hosting was marred by accusations of corruption, infrastructure problems and the withdrawal of some leading countries from the event.

On May 1, 1944, Dr. Born to K. Shamrao Kalmadi and Shanta Rao Kalmadi, Suresh Kalmadi was born in St. He was educated at Vincent High School and Fergusson College, Pune.

He joined the National Defense Academy (NDA) in 1960 and was commissioned as a pilot in the Indian Air Force between 1964 and 1972. He served as an instructor for NDA’s Air Force Training team between 1972 and 1974. He retired as fleet commander.

In 1977, Kalmadi started his political career and became the president of the Indian Youth Congress. In 1980, he became the president of the Maharashtra Athletics Association and during his tenure, he undertook the selection trials of the marathon team that would represent India at the Moscow Olympics.

Kalmadi was a member of the Rajya Sabha for three terms from 1982 to 1986 and 1998. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996 and also in 2004. During Narasimha Rao’s tenure, Kalmadi served as Minister of State for Railways from 1995 to 1996.

He served as president of the Indian Olympic Association from 1996 to 2012. He served as president of the Asian Athletics Association from 2000 to 2013 and was elected ‘life president’ of the association in 2015.

The Commonwealth Games hosted by India in 2010 took place under his leadership and the then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit marred by several controversies. He was suspended from Congress after his arrest for CWG fraud. He was dismissed from his post as IOA president on April 26, 2011.

However, CBI and ED closed the case last year. However, Kalmadi remained in prison for 10 months.