Indian running legend Olympian Hari Chand passes away

Hoshiarpur: Asian Games double gold medalist Hari Chand passed away aged 69 on Monday morning in Hoshiarpur. Two time Olympian has finished first in the 5000m and 10000m races in Bangkok Asiad.

Born on April 1, 1953, the former long distance runner hailed from Ghorewah village in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. Hari Chand was one of the greats that India has produced in distance running. In the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, he came eighth in the 10,000m with a time of 28:48.72, which was a national record that stood for 32 years.

He then took part in the 1980 Olympic Men’s Marathon where the Indian completed the race with a timing of 2:22:08 at Lenin Stadium, Moskva. The unsung hero of Indian athletics also bagged two gold medals in the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games. 

In Thailand, Hari was on the top step of the podium in both 5000m and 10,000m events. For his contribution to sports in India, Hari Chand was also conferred with Arjuna Award.