Gurbachan Singh Randhawa steps down as chairman of AFI selection committee

Two-time Olympian and 1962 Asian Games gold medall Gurbachan Singh Randhawa resigned as the chairman of Athletics Federation of India Selection Committee on Tuesday.
Randhawa made the announcement in a statement released to the media. “I have resigned as the Chairman of the Athletics Federation of India Selection Committee after serving in the position for 18 years. My advancing age makes it difficult for me to give the job my 100 per cent. I think it is the right time for me to hand over the reins to a younger person at a time when Indian Athletics is at a very exciting stage of its evolution,” he said
“I am truly delighted that we now have two World Athletics Championships medals in Anju Bob George and Neeraj Chopra. The cherry on the cake, of course, is Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic Games gold medal in Tokyo2020. After a number of near misses, including that of my friend the late Milkha Singh in 1960 and PT Usha in 1984, Neeraj Chopra made all our dreams come true,” he said.
“Besides India’s successes in the Asian Games, Asian Championships and South Asian Games, we have also seen how the robust junior programme, with the National Inter-Drict Junior Athletics Meet as a fabulous competition at the entry level, has led to successes in age-group competitions both at the Asian and world levels. There can be no better time for me to bid farewell,” he further added.
Randhawa won the gold in Asian Games in 1962 and finished fifth in the 110m Hurdles in the 1964 Olympic Games where he was also flag bearer in the opening ceremony.
He was bestowed Arjuna Award in 1961 and in 2005, Randhawa was conferred with the Padma Shri award.