<p>Mumbai: Suresh Kalmadi, an ace fighter pilot who took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars and later carved a niche for himself as a businessman, politician and sports administrator, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/suresh-kalmadi-senior-congress-leader-former-union-minister-passes-away-3852750">passed away</a> in Pune on Tuesday. He was 81.</p><p>He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter-in-law, two married daughters, and grandchildren. He had been ailing for the past few years.</p><p>Soft-spoken and stylish, Kalmadi was known for his exceptional networking skills and knew the who’s who across fields in the country. He was a two-time Lok Sabha member from Pune, a four-time Rajya Sabha member and also served as a Union minister.</p>.'Giant of Indian sports': Top administrators mourn Suresh Kalmadi's death.<p>A towering figure in sports administration for over two decades, Kalmadi served as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1996 to 2011, making him one of the longest-serving heads of the country’s apex sports body. However, his public life was not without controversy; most notably the allegations related to the hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.</p><p><strong>Roots in Karnataka, polyglot</strong></p><p>Kalmadi was born on May 1, 1944, in Madras (now Chennai) to Dr K. Shamrao Kalmadi and Shanta Rao Kalmadi. The family traces its roots to Mangaluru in Karnataka.</p><p>A polyglot, Kalmadi spoke several languages, including Konkani, Kannada, Marathi, English, Hindi and Tulu. He completed his schooling at St Vincent’s High School, Pune, and later studied at Fergusson College—both prominent educational institutions.</p><p><strong>IAF days</strong></p><p>Kalmadi joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, in 1960 and underwent further training at Indian Air Force flying colleges in Jodhpur and Allahabad before beginning his career as a pilot. He served the Indian Air Force from 1964 to 1974 and took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars. He retired as a Squadron Leader after an illustrious career that included a stint as an instructor with the Air Force Training Team at the NDA.</p><p><strong>Successful businessman</strong></p><p>After retiring from the IAF, Kalmadi ventured into business, acquiring the iconic Pune Coffee House at Deccan Gymkhana. The family also entered the petroleum dealership business and ran sales showrooms of a prominent Indian automobile brand.</p><p><strong>In politics, known for networking</strong></p><p>Kalmadi entered politics in Pune in the 1970s, when NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar was emerging as a key leader. In 1977, he became president of the Indian Youth Congress in Pune and later headed the Youth Congress in Maharashtra from 1978 to 1980. During this period, he came in contact with Sanjay Gandhi and subsequently Rajiv Gandhi, who later became Prime Minister.</p><p>Kalmadi served as president of the Indian Youth Congress (Socialist) from 1981 to 1986. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha four times and to the Lok Sabha twice, winning from Pune in 1996 and 2004. He served as Minister of State for Railways from 1995 to 1996 in the PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress-headed alliance government.</p><p><strong>Sports administrator</strong></p><p>Kalmadi was among the most powerful sports administrators India has seen. He served as IOA President from 1996 to 2012 and as President of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) from 2000 to 2013, later being named its Life President in 2015.</p><p>One of his major achievements as IOA chief was the revival of the National Games. Under his leadership, India hosted several international sporting events, including the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, two Asian Athletics Championships (1989 and 2013), and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.</p><p>Closely associated with Indian athletics, Kalmadi served as President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for 19 years from 1987 to 2006. As AAA President, he launched the Asian Grand Prix Athletics meet in 1990.</p><p><strong>CWG scam</strong></p><p>In 2010, Kalmadi’s name figured prominently in allegations following the conduct of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. His tenure as IOA chief ended in 2011 amid charges of corruption, culminating in his arrest. After his arrest, the Congress high-command distanced itself from Kalmadi. However, in April 2025, the Enforcement Directorate filed a closure report in the case, effectively giving him a clean chit. When he got clean chit, his supporters cheered with slogans - 'Sabse bada khiladi, Suresh Bhai Kalmadi'.</p>
<p>Mumbai: Suresh Kalmadi, an ace fighter pilot who took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars and later carved a niche for himself as a businessman, politician and sports administrator, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/suresh-kalmadi-senior-congress-leader-former-union-minister-passes-away-3852750">passed away</a> in Pune on Tuesday. He was 81.</p><p>He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter-in-law, two married daughters, and grandchildren. He had been ailing for the past few years.</p><p>Soft-spoken and stylish, Kalmadi was known for his exceptional networking skills and knew the who’s who across fields in the country. He was a two-time Lok Sabha member from Pune, a four-time Rajya Sabha member and also served as a Union minister.</p>.'Giant of Indian sports': Top administrators mourn Suresh Kalmadi's death.<p>A towering figure in sports administration for over two decades, Kalmadi served as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1996 to 2011, making him one of the longest-serving heads of the country’s apex sports body. However, his public life was not without controversy; most notably the allegations related to the hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.</p><p><strong>Roots in Karnataka, polyglot</strong></p><p>Kalmadi was born on May 1, 1944, in Madras (now Chennai) to Dr K. Shamrao Kalmadi and Shanta Rao Kalmadi. The family traces its roots to Mangaluru in Karnataka.</p><p>A polyglot, Kalmadi spoke several languages, including Konkani, Kannada, Marathi, English, Hindi and Tulu. He completed his schooling at St Vincent’s High School, Pune, and later studied at Fergusson College—both prominent educational institutions.</p><p><strong>IAF days</strong></p><p>Kalmadi joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, in 1960 and underwent further training at Indian Air Force flying colleges in Jodhpur and Allahabad before beginning his career as a pilot. He served the Indian Air Force from 1964 to 1974 and took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars. He retired as a Squadron Leader after an illustrious career that included a stint as an instructor with the Air Force Training Team at the NDA.</p><p><strong>Successful businessman</strong></p><p>After retiring from the IAF, Kalmadi ventured into business, acquiring the iconic Pune Coffee House at Deccan Gymkhana. The family also entered the petroleum dealership business and ran sales showrooms of a prominent Indian automobile brand.</p><p><strong>In politics, known for networking</strong></p><p>Kalmadi entered politics in Pune in the 1970s, when NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar was emerging as a key leader. In 1977, he became president of the Indian Youth Congress in Pune and later headed the Youth Congress in Maharashtra from 1978 to 1980. During this period, he came in contact with Sanjay Gandhi and subsequently Rajiv Gandhi, who later became Prime Minister.</p><p>Kalmadi served as president of the Indian Youth Congress (Socialist) from 1981 to 1986. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha four times and to the Lok Sabha twice, winning from Pune in 1996 and 2004. He served as Minister of State for Railways from 1995 to 1996 in the PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress-headed alliance government.</p><p><strong>Sports administrator</strong></p><p>Kalmadi was among the most powerful sports administrators India has seen. He served as IOA President from 1996 to 2012 and as President of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) from 2000 to 2013, later being named its Life President in 2015.</p><p>One of his major achievements as IOA chief was the revival of the National Games. Under his leadership, India hosted several international sporting events, including the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, two Asian Athletics Championships (1989 and 2013), and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.</p><p>Closely associated with Indian athletics, Kalmadi served as President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for 19 years from 1987 to 2006. As AAA President, he launched the Asian Grand Prix Athletics meet in 1990.</p><p><strong>CWG scam</strong></p><p>In 2010, Kalmadi’s name figured prominently in allegations following the conduct of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. His tenure as IOA chief ended in 2011 amid charges of corruption, culminating in his arrest. After his arrest, the Congress high-command distanced itself from Kalmadi. However, in April 2025, the Enforcement Directorate filed a closure report in the case, effectively giving him a clean chit. When he got clean chit, his supporters cheered with slogans - 'Sabse bada khiladi, Suresh Bhai Kalmadi'.</p>