IOA mourns former president Adithan's death

Chandigarh, April 21 (IANS) The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Sunday mourned the death of its former president B. Sivanthi Adithan, saying that sports in the country has lost a "father figure, a great guide and motivator".

Adithan, 76, died in Chennai Friday after a prolonged illness.

IOA president and Haryana legislator Abhay Singh Chautala and secretary general Lalit Bhanot in a joint condolence message said: "We are grieved, the IOA has suffered an irreparable loss. Adithan's death has created a vacuum that can never be filled. He led by example. He was always helpful to sportspersons. He always worked for the betterment of Indian sports."

Chautala said that Adithan was known to help volleyball players to get training and exposure abroad.

"We will set up a memorial or an award after his name to perpetuate his memory," Chautala said.

Adithan, a keen sports enthusiast, was a volleyball player. Later, he served as the president of Volleyball Federation of India. In 1996, Adithan received the Olympic Order of Merit from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

A Padmashree awardee, Adithan headed the media group that runs one of the largest circulating Tamil dailies "Daily Thanthi", evening daily "Malai Malar", television channel Thanthi TV. The group also has interests in other industries and educational institutions.