Track and field coach Purushotham Rai passed away due to heart attack on Friday at the age of 79. A few days ago, he was selected for the Dronacharya Award (lifetime category).
Rai was due to receive the prestigious award from President Ram Nath Kovind in a virtual ceremony on Saturday.
Rai graduated with diploma in athletics from Nethaji Institute of Sports in 1974. He trained international athletes like Ashwini Nachappa, Murali Kuttan, MK Asha, EB Shyla, Rosa Kutty and GG Pramila.
He accompanied the Indian team as coach for the 1987 World Athletics Championship, 1988 Asian Track and Field Championships and 1999 SAF Games.
Rai served as coach at Services, Department of Youth Empowerment & Sports (DYES), and Sports Authority of India (SAI). After retiring from SAI in 2001, he continued to train young athletes at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium until 2015.
Karnataka Athletics Associations (KAA) condoled his demise.