Five-time Olympian, Asian Games gold medallist Raja Randhir Singh dies at 79

New Delhi: Over the past decade, Randhir Singh could be seen once in a while treating his young granddaughter to an ice-cream at a south Delhi Nirula’s outlet after picking her up from school. It seemed like delivering on a promise for the well-known face of Indian sports administration, who had decidedly slowed down to spend more time with family.Singh’s death, at the age of 79 due to illness on Wednesday, marks the end of a significant chapter in Indian sport.In a time, when the push is to have accomplished sportspersons in India’s much-maligned sports administration, and while the move is producing mixed or debatable results, Randhir Singh was the original, and an aberration.While many sportspersons struggle to transition into governance, Singh successfully bridged both worlds with credibility and respect. He belonged to that rare group in Indian sport — individuals who achieved distinction both as elite athletes and as top-level administrators.A pioneering shooter, Olympian and one of the country’s most respected sports administrators, Singh dedicated nearly six decades of his life to Indian and Asian sport. He combined excellence as an athlete with measured and effective leadership as an administrator, earning admiration across generations of sportsmen and officials.He was a calm and experienced administrator who consistently advocated stronger sporting structures, better athlete support systems and greater engagement between Indian and Asian sporting institutions.But before all that, Randhir was one of India’s finest shooters at a time when the sport received little national attention. Long before India became a recognised force in global shooting, Singh’s success helped inspire interest in the sport and encouraged future generations of Indian shooters. He represented India at five Olympic Games and became known for his discipline, composure and commitment to excellence.His defining achievement came at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, where he won the gold medal in trap shooting, becoming India’s first Asian Games gold medallist in shooting.His achievements earned him the Arjuna Award and established him as one of the pioneers of Indian shooting.After retiring from competition, Singh moved into sports administration and went on to become one of the most influential figures in the Olympic movement in Asia. As secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for more than two decades, he played a major role in shaping sports governance in the country and strengthening India’s presence in international sporting forums.He also served in important positions within the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia, where he earned respect for his diplomatic skills and ability to build consensus among sporting bodies. His election as President of the Olympic Council of Asia in 2024 reflected the high regard in which he was held internationally, though health concerns later limited his active involvement.Like several senior officials associated with Indian sport during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, Singh’s tenure also coincided with a period marked by allegations of irregularities and organisational lapses. However, no wrongdoing was ever linked to him and he continued to enjoy the trust and respect of the sporting fraternity throughout his long administrative career.Tributes poured in following his death. “We have lost an exceptional leader and his irreplaceable wisdom,” IOA president PT Usha said.Abhinav Bindra described him as a figure whose contribution went far beyond medals and official positions. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Randhir Singh ji. He was a towering figure in Indian sport, but beyond the positions he held, he carried himself with warmth, dignity, and a genuine love for the Olympic movement,” Bindra told TOI.“He gave a lifetime to sport and to the athletes, administrators and institutions that serve it. For many of us, he was not just an elder in Indian sport, but a source of encouragement, guidance and grace. His presence had a rare gentleness, and his contribution will be remembered with great respect,” added the 2008 Olympic gold medallist.Shooter Gagan Narang too paid his tribute. “When I stood on that podium in London in 2012, he was part of why that moment was possible,” Narang, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, wrote.“I will always remain grateful for the guidance, values and belief he gave athletes like us through generations. India has lost a towering figure today, and I have lost someone I deeply admired,” he told TOI. (With inputs from Tushar Dutt)

The slugging Orioles first baseman is one of our two picks to go deep on Wednesday

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama froze out the media on Tuesday night, following a brutal Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder that resulted in a 127-114 loss.

Wembanyama scored 20 points, but got 12 from the free-throw line. He was 4-of-15 from the field and missed each of the five 3-pointers he shot. He had three blocks and two steals and was minus-8 on the floor. It was his worst game of the series after helping the Spurs to two victories with 41-point and 33-point performances

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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama moves on the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA playoffs in Oklahoma City on May 26, 2026. (Julio Cortez/AP)

After the game, Wembanyama was nowhere to be found.

“He’s got to take more than 15 shots, even with the free throws,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters after the game. “He’s going to have to score more than 20 points, for sure. … OKC did a good job. We’ve got to do a better job.”

Wembanyama tried to rally his teammates with an impassioned speech after the Thunder opened an 18-point lead. Oklahoma City was able to get the lead up to 20 points before San Antonio was able to cut it to eight.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama in the second half of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (Julio Cortez/AP)

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However, the Spurs couldn’t get closer to that. San Antonio was only able to score two points in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter.

The Thunder blitzed Wembanyama with several defenders, including Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Alex Caruso.

“It’s a team defense,” Thunder guard Jared McCain said. “We talked about it. We made adjustments to it. We know that when he gets going, their whole team gets going.”

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama moves against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA playoffs in Oklahoma City on May 26, 2026. (Gerald Leong/AP)

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Game 6 is back in San Antonio on Thursday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Richard Hughes to AC Milan? Liverpool Face Unwanted Sporting Director Noise

AC Milan Rebuild Puts Anfield Executive in Focus

Liverpool supporters have grown used to transfer rumours circling players. They are less accustomed to the same machinery turning towards executives. Yet TEAMtalk’s report that AC Milan are considering Richard Hughes as part of a major San Siro rebuild adds an intriguing layer to what already feels like a defining summer at Anfield.

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According to TEAMtalk, Milan are reshaping their football structure after a disappointing campaign, with RedBird Capital looking for new leadership behind the scenes. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, still influential as a senior advisor, is understood to be involved in that search. Hughes, now Liverpool’s sporting director, has emerged as one of the names admired by the Italian giants.

For Liverpool, the timing could hardly be more awkward. Hughes arrived with a clear brief, to help shape the next era after Jürgen Klopp and support Arne Slot through a period of considerable transition. That work is only beginning to take full form.

Hughes Profile Makes Milan Interest Understandable

Milan’s interest is not difficult to understand. Hughes has Italian roots, having grown up in Milan and spent time in Atalanta’s academy. TEAMtalk also highlights his fluency in Italian, recruitment experience and growing reputation within elite football circles.

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That combination matters. Modern sporting directors are no longer simply dealmakers. They are interpreters of identity, economics and ambition. They must understand markets, managers and ownership expectations. In that sense, Hughes would look like a natural fit for a club trying to restore order after upheaval.

His work around ambitious Liverpool deals, including Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, is said to have impressed Milan. Whether every supporter agrees with the direction of Liverpool’s recruitment is another matter, but Hughes clearly has standing within the game.

Anfield Cannot Afford Structural Uncertainty

Liverpool’s issue is not merely whether Hughes would be tempted. It is what the speculation represents. Anfield has already endured a period of enormous change, from Klopp’s departure to the arrival of Slot, a Premier League triumph followed by a trophyless campaign that has sharpened scrutiny around recruitment, coaching and squad balance.

Photo: IMAGO

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If Liverpool are to move decisively this summer, they need clarity. A sporting director cannot be half present during a major rebuild. He must be fully involved, fully empowered and fully aligned with the head coach.

TEAMtalk report that Hughes recently rejected interest from Al-Hilal and remains focused on Liverpool. That should reassure supporters, at least for now. Milan, though, are not a passing curiosity. They are one of Europe’s grand institutions, and for someone with Hughes’ personal history, any approach would carry emotional weight.

Summer Decisions Will Define Liverpool Direction

Tiago Pinto, now at Bournemouth, is also reportedly under consideration by Milan. That suggests the Italian club are not simply chasing a name, they are searching for a Premier League hardened operator who understands complex markets.

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For Liverpool, the priority must be simple. Remove doubt. Back the structure. Make sure Hughes, Slot and FSG are operating from the same script.

The danger is not only losing an executive. It is allowing uncertainty to seep into a summer when Liverpool need precision. Milan’s admiration may flatter Hughes, but Anfield’s needs are more urgent.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool fan’s perspective, this is one of those stories that feels small until you consider the timing. Richard Hughes is not a player supporters sing about, but his influence over the next version of Liverpool could be enormous. After a trophyless season under Arne Slot, this summer already feels like a referendum on the club’s direction.

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The Milan link is understandable. Hughes speaks the language, knows the culture and has a football background that fits Serie A. If Zlatan Ibrahimovic and RedBird are searching for someone to modernise Milan, it makes sense they would look at Liverpool’s sporting director.

Still, Liverpool cannot be relaxed about this. The club needs joined up thinking after a year when too many supporters felt the football lacked identity and the squad looked uneven. If Hughes is central to transfers involving Wirtz, Isak, Ekitike or any other major targets, then the idea of Milan circling him is not helpful.

The reassuring detail is TEAMtalk’s claim that Hughes rejected Al-Hilal and remains focused on Liverpool. That sounds positive. Yet football moves quickly, especially when personal ties are involved.

For fans, the message is clear, Liverpool must show ambition, stability and urgency. Losing Hughes now would not be catastrophic, but it would raise serious questions about the club’s planning. This summer needs leadership, not another layer of uncertainty.a

“You. Are. Cursed.”

It’s the zinger that has plagued WWE superstars, Stephen A. Smith and sports teams alike. Danhausen, the “very nice and very evil” pro wrestling personality that has laid his curse on The Miz, Kit Wilson and the ESPN pundit, did something that was more of the former rather than the latter. He “uncursed” the New York Knicks.

The Knicks and Knicks fans have been in a pit of basketball despair for about 27 years. Since the San Antonio Spurs swept them in the 1999 NBA Finals, joy when watching the Knicks has come in waves.

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Danhausen enters the ring during WWE Backlash at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Fla., on May 9, 2026. (Michael Owens/WWE)

The arrivals of Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony helped bring the spark back into their eyes. Jeremy Lin and “Linsanity” gave them hope and even Phil Jackson taking over as president of the team for three years in the mid-2010s was a moment that would have been engrained in fans’ heads for quite some time if it led to any kind of success.

But this year’s iteration of the Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, has, so far, erased all of the tales of tragedy and small triumphs that never came to fruition. The Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals on Monday night with a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Danhausen cursed the Cavaliers, much to the chagrin of Cleveland sports fan The Miz. He even showed up to Madison Square Garden and received a jersey while WWE released a shirt in collaboration with the Knicks. The shirt read, “You are Uncursed.”

Miz speaks with Danhausen during SmackDown at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 1, 2026. (Meg Oliphant/WWE)

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Danhausen took a victory lap on Tuesday, appearing in a video breaking out a broom to signify the sweep.

“UNCURSED,” he added in a separate post on X.

The moment underscores a perfect crossover moment between pro wrestling and mainstream sports. Brunson, himself, is a huge WWE fan and got involved in an angle last year with Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.

Brunson has avoided commenting on Danhausen’s shenanigans, but said he and the training staff “acknowledge” world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns before every game.

“See, these are the questions I want asked! … I have a handshake with one of our trainers and we acknowledge him before every game,” he said back on April 30 after Reigns won the title at WrestleMania 42.

Whether it’s voodoo, magic, or whatever you want to call it, the Knicks have propelled themselves back into the hearts and minds of basketball fans and have become one of the feel-good stories of the year.

Across the city, in Queens, the New York Mets are still hoping for an “uncursing.” But Danhausen made clear to Fox News Digital during WrestleMania week in April that that the team wasn’t fully away from his curse.

New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson reacts after scoring during the second half of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in New York, New York, on May 19, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

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“I did un-curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because, I believe it was Brian Gewirtz who did not pay Danhausen. He did not send me my money so it did not take full effect,” he said. “Once I have the money, perhaps it will actually work because right now it’s probably about a half of an un-cursing. It’s like a layaway situation.”

Veteran sports administrator and India’s first shooting gold-medallist in Asian Games, Randhir Singh, died here on Wednesday after battling age-related ailments.

He was 79 and had undergone hospitalisation for several days before breathing his last at his residence here.

Singh recently quit his position as the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) due to health issues. He was elected for a four-year term in 2024.

“With deep sorrow, we share the sad news of the passing of Raja Randhir Singh, who left for his heavenly abode today, on 27th May 2026,” Secretary of the National Rifles Association of India (NRAI), Rajiv Bhatia stated. 

“A distinguished Olympian, Arjuna Awardee, and one of the most respected sports administrators in India, Asia, and the International Olympic Committee, Raja Randhir Singh, made invaluable contributions to the development of shooting sports and the Olympic movement.

“The National Rifle Association of India and the entire shooting fraternity mourn this irreparable loss and extend heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. May his noble soul rest in eternal peace,” he added.

Singh’s stellar sporting career included five Olympic appearances and the historic trap gold in the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games.

In his equally successful administrative career, he served as the Secretary General of the Indian olympic Association (IOA) and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).