Former IOA President Ashwini Kumar passes away

Former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Ashwini Kumar, who was honoured with the Olympic Order in 2002, passed away today.
Ashwini was 94 and breathed his last in a city hospital this evening.
He was life President of IOA and also headed Indian Hockey Federation, which he served for 16 years.
He was elected as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member in 1973 and became a member of the IOC Executive Board in 1980.
He served IOC as vice-president from 1983 to 1987 and was re-elected to the IOC Executive Board from 1992 to 1996. He became an IOC honorary member in 2000.

"Mr Ashwini Kumar was one of the stalwarts of Indian sports administration. Not only he has given immense contribution to the development of Indian sports, he is a connoisseur in sports administration in the world. It is a great loss for Indian sport. His passing away has left a big void," IOA Secretary General Rajiv Mehta said.

IOA treasurer Anil Khanna also condoled the death of Ashwini Kumar saying, "he has left a rich legacy behind. It's difficult to fill the space that has been created by his passing away."
Ashwini served the police force for 36 years and retired as the Director General of the Border Security Force in 1978. He then served as a security delegate in organising security for the Olympic Games since 1980.

He was also adjudged the 'Policeman of the millennium' in Sydney in 2000.