Bhutan Olympic Committee Holds Prayer Ceremony in Memory of Raja Randhir Singh
PRESS RELEASE
A special prayer ceremony was held at Simtokha Dzong in Thimphu in memory of the Late Raja Randhir Singh, Honorary Life President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee, and former President of the Olympic Council of Asia.
His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, graced the ceremony and offered prayers by lighting butter lamps at Simtokha Dzong in honor of the late Raja Randhir Singh.
The prayer ceremony was attended by BOC Executive Committee Members, leaders of the National Sports Federations and staff of the Bhutan Olympic Committee family, who gathered to pay their respects and offer prayers in remembrance of one of Asia’s most respected sports leaders.
Raja Randhir Singh passed away on 27 May 2026 at the age of 79. Hailing from the royal family of Patiala, India, he was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the Asian Olympic Movement. He made history as the first Indian to be elected President of the Olympic Council of Asia.
An accomplished athlete, Raja Randhir Singh was India’s first-ever Asian Games shooting gold medalist, winning the men’s trap event at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games. He also secured an individual bronze medal and a team silver medal at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games. Over the course of his sporting career, he represented India at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1968 to 1984.
Beyond his achievements as an athlete, he dedicated decades of service to the Olympic Movement. He served as the Honorary Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association from 1987 to 2012 and also held the same position with the Olympic Council of Asia. He later went on to serve as President of the OCA and was an esteemed member of the International Olympic Committee.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions to sport and the Olympic Movement, he was awarded India’s prestigious Arjuna Award in 1979 and received the Olympic Order Silver from the International Olympic Committee in 2014.
The Bhutan Olympic Committee family joins the global Olympic community in mourning the passing of Raja Randhir Singh, remembered for his distinguished leadership, humility, and unwavering dedication to the advancement of sport and Olympic values across Asia and the world.
