Suresh Kalmadi: prominent political figure and sports administrator

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

An Air Force veteran turned politician and sports administrator, it was during Kalmadi term as president of Indian Olympics Committee, Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010. It was probably one of the best medal tally for India at CWG, but the hosting was marred by corruption charges, infrastructure issues and some prominent nations opting out of the event

Born on May 1, 1944 to Dr. K. Shamrao Kalmadi and Shanta Rao Kalmadi, Suresh Kalmadi was educated at St. Vincent’s High School and Fergusson College, Pune.

In 1960, he joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned as a pilot in the Indian Air Force, serving between 1964 and 1972. He became the instructor with the Air Force Training team of the NDA from 1972 to 1974. He retired as the squadron leader.

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 for the marathon team to represent India at the Moscow Olympics.

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

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

The Commonwealth Games hosted by India in 2010 under his leadership and when Sheila Dikshit, the then Delhi Chief Minister, was marred in several controversies. He was suspended from the Congress after his arrest in the CWG scam. On April 26, 2011 he was sacked from the post of president of IOA.

However, the CBI and ED closed the case last year. But Kalmadi spent 10-months in jail as an underttrial.