Veteran athletics coach Purshottam Rai died due to a cardiac arrest in Bengaluru yesterday. He was to be conferred the prestigious Dronacharya Award in the lifetime category today. He was 79. Rai coached top athletes such as Olympian quartermiler Vandana Rao, heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa, Ashwini Nachappa, Murali Kuttan, MK Asha, EB Shyla, Rosa Kutty and GG Pramila.

AFI president Adille Sumariwalla said, it is a tragic incident and they are shocked. In a tweet, he said Rai spent his entire life for athletics and he made immense contributions to Indian athletics.