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.
