The Indian sporting world on Tuesday bid farewell to one of its most prominent and controversial administrators, Suresh Kalmadi, who passed away at the age of 81. A dominant figure from the 1990s through the 2010s, Kalmadi's legacy is a complex tapestry of ambitious infrastructure projects, groundbreaking international events, and the shadow of the corruption-tainted 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
A Polarising Figure in Indian Sports Administration
For over two decades, Suresh Kalmadi was the ever-present face of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and athletics. In an era when Indian Olympic sports were often seen as slow-moving, he pushed for modernization and global exposure. He is widely credited with having the ambition to build sporting infrastructure and bring major international events to India long before it became a common pursuit.
However, as the public face of the administration, he also bore the brunt of criticism for India's sporting failures, which were frequent in the 1990s. His defining chapter, and the one that would cement his controversial image, was his role as chief of the Organising Committee for the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi. The event, while a spectacle, became infamous as the costliest and allegedly the most corrupt Games ever held.
A Legacy of Vision and Controversy
The allegations of mismanagement and corruption during the CWG played a key role in sparking a significant anti-corruption movement in the national capital. Although the Enforcement Directorate gave him a clean chit as recently as April of last year, the tarnished image remained with the former airman and ex-Congress MP. He spent 10 months in prison in connection with the case.
Despite the controversies, the sporting fraternity chose to highlight his contributions upon his passing. Adille Sumariwalla, former athlete and current administrator, stated that a great deal of credit for taking Indian sport and the Olympic movement forward must go to Kalmadi. "He did things long before others could even imagine them," Sumariwalla said, pointing to the innovative Permit Leagues of the 1990s that brought global legends like Carl Lewis to India.
Tributes from the Sporting Community
Fellow Punekar and Indian hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay recalled Kalmadi as an administrator who cared for athletes. He shared a personal anecdote from 2009, when the Indian hockey team went on strike in Pune over payment issues. "He called me at 2.30 am," Pillay remembered. "He asked me to mediate, gave me a free hand, and fulfilled all promises to break the strike ahead of the World Cup and 2010 CWG."
Olympic shooter Anjali Bhagwat added that the majority of sports infrastructure built across India in the 1990s was due to Kalmadi's relentless efforts. His passing has once again polarized opinion, but it has also prompted a reflection on an era of Indian sports defined by both bold dreams and profound scandals.
