Indian boxing’s first Dronacharya awardee coach OP Bhardwaj dies

NEW DELHI: India’s first Dronacharya awardee coach in boxing, OP Bhardwaj, died on Friday after battling prolonged illness and age related issues here. He was 82 and had tragically lost his wife Santosh to ill-health about 10 days ago.

Bhardwaj was bestowed the highest national honour in coaching jointly with Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat (wrestling) and OM Nambiar (athletics), when it was introduced in 1985.

“He had been unwell for many days with a lot of health issues and was hospitalised. Age was a factor and there was also the shock of losing his wife about 10 days back,” TL Gupta, a close family friend and former boxing coach, said.

Bhardwaj was India’s national boxing coach from 1968 to 1989 and also served as a selector. Under his tutelage, Indian pugilists won medals at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games. Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh condoled his demise.

“OP Bhardwaj ji has been a flag-bearer for the sport of boxing. As a coach, he inspired a generation of boxers, and coaches while as a selector, his work has been visionary and unparalleled,” Singh said.

Mazumdar no more Former India boxer Sakti Mazumdar, who had represented India at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, died on Friday after suffering a heart attack. He was 89.

Mendiratta dies

Athletics Federation of India’s medical commission chairman Arun Kumar Mendiratta, set to travel for the Tokyo Olympics, died on Friday due to Covid-19, at a hospital here. He was 60.