OP Bhardwaj, India's first Dronacharya awardee, dies at 82
Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images
OP Bhardwaj, India's first Dhronacharya awardee in boxing, died on Friday after battling prolonged illness and age-related issues. He was 82 and had lost his wife Santosh to ill-health about 10 days ago.
Bhardwaj was bestowed the Dronacharya award, the highest national honour in coaching, jointly with Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat (wrestling) and OM Nambiar (athletics), when it was introduced in 1985.
"He had been unwell for many days with a lot of health issues and was hospitalised. Age was a factor and there was also the shock of losing his wife about 10 days back," TL Gupta, a close family friend and a former boxing coach, said.