Davidcza: added first bio initial version

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added first bio initial version

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{{Short description|Indian sports administrator and police officer (1920-2015)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ashwini Kumar
| office = Vice-President of the [[International Olympic Committee]]
| term_start = 1983
| term_end = 1987
| office1 = [[List of members of the International Olympic Committee|Member of the International Olympic Committee]]
| term_start1 = 1973
| term_end1 = 2000
| office2 = 4th and 6th Secretary General of the [[Indian Olympic Association]]
| term_start2 = 1956
| term_end2 = 1960
| president2 = [[Yadavindra Singh]]
| predecessor2 = [[Moin-ul-Haq]]
| successor2 = [[Pankaj Gupta (sports administrator)|Pankaj Gupta]]
| term_start3 = 1970
| term_end3 = 1974
| president3 = [[Bhalindra Singh]]
| predecessor3 = [[Pankaj Gupta (sports administrator)|Pankaj Gupta]]
| successor3 = J. C. Paliwal
| office4 = President of the [[Indian Hockey Federation]]
| term_start4 = 1958
| term_end4 = 1974
| predecessor4 = [[Naval Tata]]
| successor4 = [[M. A. M. Ramaswamy]]
| office5 = 2nd Director General of the [[Border Security Force]]
| term_start5 = 1972
| term_end5 = 1977
| predecessor5 = [[Khusro Faramurz Rustamji]]
| successor5 = Sharawan Tandon
| module = {{Infobox police officer
| allegiance = [[Indian Police Service]]
| service = India
| service_years = 1942-1978<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 December 1999 |title=Erosion of law & order has affected society |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99dec11/saturday/head5.htm |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Tribune India |archive-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505230242/http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99dec11/saturday/head5.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rank = [[File:Director General of Police.png|20px]] [[Director General of Police]]
| embed = yes
}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1920|12|28}}
| death_date = {{dda|df=y|2015|10|19|1920|12|28}}
| birth_place = [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British India]]
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], India
| spouse = Renu Kumar
| children = 2
| occupation = {{Hlist|Sports administrator|police officer}}
| alma_mater = [[Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore]]
| image = Ashwini Kumar.jpeg
| caption = Kumar in 2005
}}

'''Ashwini Kumar''' (28 December 1920 –15 October 2015) was an Indian sports administrator and police officer. Kumar was noted as one of India's most prominent sports administrators and was also a decorated [[Indian Police Service]] (IPS) officer.<ref name=":3" /> He held positions in both international and Indian [[Sports governing body|sports governing bodies]].

Kumar's international positions included being a member of the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) from 1973 to 2000, a member of the IOC Executive Board from 1980 to 1987 and once again from 1992 to 1996, Vice-President of the IOC from 1983 to 1987 and Vice-President of the [[International Hockey Federation]] for over 15 years.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=20 October 2015 |title=Death of Ashwini Kumar, IOC Honorary Member |url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/death-of-ashwini-kumar-ioc-honorary-member |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=Olympics}}</ref> His positions in Indian sports administration included being President of the [[Indian Hockey Federation]] from 1958 to 1974 and Secretary General of the [[Indian Olympic Association]] from 1956 to 1960, and once again from 1970 to 1974.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Bala |first=Vijayan |date=24 December 2022 |title=Remembering Ashwini Kumar – The brilliant police officer and great sports administrator |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/remembering-ashwini-kumar-the-brilliant-police-officer-and-great-sports-administrator/articleshow/79938484.cms |access-date=2023-01-19 |archive-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119083639/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/remembering-ashwini-kumar-the-brilliant-police-officer-and-great-sports-administrator/articleshow/79938484.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kumar was also a senior and decorated IPS officer.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cpfVVXV3-t4C |title=India's Foreign Policy in the 21st Century |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |year=2006 |isbn=978-81-7835-500-9 |editor-last=Chopra |editor-first=V.D. |location=New Delhi |page=11 |language=en |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200949/https://books.google.com/books?id=cpfVVXV3-t4C |url-status=live }}</ref> His police career lasted 36 years, and he was serving as the [[Director general of police|Director General]] of the [[Border Security Force]] when he retired in 1978.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=21 October 2015 |title=Former FIH Vice-President Ashwini Kumar passes away {{!}} FIH |url=https://www.fih.ch/news/former-fih-vice-president-ashwini-kumar-passes-away/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=FIH |archive-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119182620/https://www.fih.ch/news/former-fih-vice-president-ashwini-kumar-passes-away/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kumar was awarded several decorations during his police career, including the [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third-highest civilian award, in 1972.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=President's Secretariat |date=15 January 1972 |title=The Gazette of India Extraordinary [Part 1-Section1] |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/content/notifications/PadmaAwards/1972.pdf |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=Padma Awards |page=85 |archive-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119182446/https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/content/notifications/PadmaAwards/1972.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards {{!}} Interactive Dashboard |url=https://dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Field=Civil%20Service&Award=Padma%20Bhushan&Year=1972-1972&Name=Ashwini%20Kumar |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200953/https://dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Field=Civil%20Service&Award=Padma%20Bhushan&Year=1972-1972&Name=Ashwini%20Kumar |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kumar died on 15 October 2015, at the age of 94, in [[New Delhi]], India.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Nick |date=2015-10-20 |title=India's former IOC vice-president Ashwini Kumar dies aged 94 |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1031087/indias-former-ioc-vice-president-ashwini-kumar-dies-aged-94 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Inside the Games |archive-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119184256/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1031087/indias-former-ioc-vice-president-ashwini-kumar-dies-aged-94 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Early life ==
Ashwini Kumar was born on 28 December 1920 in [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]], to Dr. Vishwa Nath, a [[physician]] from [[Lahore]].<ref name=":0" /> He attended university at the [[Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore]], where he was also part of the boxing club, and graduated in 1942 with a [[master's degree]] in [[History]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Batra |first=M. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QCOWUKV-dLMC |title=In the Middle |date=2005 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-265-9 |location=New Delhi |page=63 |language=en |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200959/https://books.google.com/books?id=QCOWUKV-dLMC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b2bfAAAAMAAJ |title=Military Year-book |publisher=Guide Publications |year=1977 |editor-last=Baranwal |editor-first=Sukhdeo Prasad |volume=12 |location=New Delhi |page=359 |language=en |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413201001/https://books.google.com/books?id=b2bfAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Police career ==
Kumar began police his career in 1942.<ref name=":1" /> He achieved first place in the service examination and then joined the [[Indian Imperial Police|Imperial Police]], the predecessor of the [[Indian Police Service]], at the age of 22.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> During his police career, Kumar was involved in several notable cases. His first notable case came in 1951, when Kumar was sent by the [[Government of India]] to deal with the Bhupat gang that was active in [[Saurashtra (state)|Saurashtra]], which is now part of [[Gujarat]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Dulat |first=A.S. |date=21 October 2015 |title=An irreplaceable police officer with hockey as his love |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/an-irreplaceable-police-officer-with-hockey-as-his-love-148763 |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=The Tribune |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120094837/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/an-irreplaceable-police-officer-with-hockey-as-his-love-148763 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JDVWAAAAYAAJ |title=Link |publisher=United India Periodicals |year=1965 |volume=7 |location=Delhi |page=39 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YwZs02kZSxAC&pg=PA26 |title=Reflections and Reminiscences of Police Officers |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |year=2006 |isbn=978-81-8069-236-9 |editor-last=Sen |editor-first=Sankar |location=Delhi |pages=26–33 |language=en |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413201009/https://books.google.com/books?id=YwZs02kZSxAC&pg=PA26 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kumar successfully liquidated the Bhupat gang and the leader of the gang fled to [[Pakistan]].<ref name=":2" />

In 1965, Kumar, who at the time was a [[Deputy inspector general of police|Deputy Inspector-General of Police]] arrested the killers of a former [[Chief Minister of Punjab (India)|Chief minister of Punjab]], [[Partap Singh Kairon|Partab Singh Kairon]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XXIbAAAAMAAJ |title=The Detective |year=1965 |pages=13–14 |language=en |access-date=20 January 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200955/https://books.google.com/books?id=XXIbAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the case, Kumar chased Sucha Singh, who was one of the killers, to [[Nepal]] before arresting him within Nepal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kapur |first=M. L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlZXAAAAMAAJ&q=%22 |title=Punjab Sports and Who's who: Official Book of Punjab Olympic Association |publisher=Punjab Olympic Association |year=1968 |location=Punjab |language=en |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200946/https://books.google.com/books?id=xlZXAAAAMAAJ&q=%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kumar himself was arrested by the [[Nepali Army|Nepalese Army]] and was forced to share a cell with Singh for over a week before Kumar was freed and made his way back to India.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />

Kumar joined the [[Border Security Force]] (BSF) when it was formed in 1965.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Rajgopal |first=P. V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=okJ523AgRFIC&dq=%22Ashwini+Kumar%22+%22border+security+force%22&pg=PT322 |title=The British, The Bandits and The Bordermen: From the diaries and articles of K F Rustamji |date=2010-12-10 |publisher=Wisdom Tree Publishers |isbn=978-81-8328-203-1 |location=New Delhi |language=en |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200929/https://books.google.com/books?id=okJ523AgRFIC&dq=%22Ashwini+Kumar%22+%22border+security+force%22&pg=PT322 |url-status=live }}</ref> Before becoming the [[Director general of police|Director General]] of the BSF in 1974, he was an [[Inspector-general of police|Inspector General]] (IG) of the BSF (Western Frontier) and was in charge of the BSF's operations in the western front of the [[India–Pakistan border|India-Pakistan border]].<ref name=":7" /> At the same time as being the IG of the BSF (Western Frontier), Kumar was also the IG of [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]].<ref name=":7" /> He became the Director General of the BSF in 1974.<ref name=":7" />

Kumar's police career lasted for 36 years, and he was serving as the Director General of the BSF when he retired in 1978.<ref name=":6" /> Over the course of his police career, Kumar received the President’s Medal for Gallantry twice, the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1972.<ref name=":0" />

== Sports administration career ==
Kumar held various positions in both Indian [[Sports governing body|sports governing bodies]] and international sports governing bodies.

=== Indian sports administration ===
Kumar was the President of the [[Indian Hockey Federation]] (IHF) from 1958 to 1974.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bala |first=Vijayan |date=2020-12-27 |title=A sports lover's century |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/a-sports-lovers-century/article33422896.ece |access-date=2023-01-22 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928020913/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/a-sports-lovers-century/article33422896.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> During his tenure as the President of the IHF, the [[India men's national field hockey team]] won the gold medal in the [[1964 Summer Olympics]] and in the [[1966 Asian Games]], and the bronze medal in the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] and in the [[1972 Summer Olympics]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Kapadia |first=Novy |title=Chronicling the intriguing era of Indian hockey under the legendary Ashwini Kumar |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/hockey/witness-to-an-era-novy-kapadia |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Sportskeeda |date=23 October 2015 |language=en-us |archive-date=23 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123174403/https://www.sportskeeda.com/hockey/witness-to-an-era-novy-kapadia |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite a successful tenure as the IHF President, Kumar was criticised for his selection procedures for the men's national team and for not taking any action to dispel the persistent rumours that [[Muslims|Muslim]] players in the Indian team would not play at their best in the matches against Pakistan.<ref name=":8" /> He was also criticised for his authoritarian leadership, and a growing opposition against Kumar eventually forced him to resign from the presidency of the IHF.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Majumdar |first1=Boria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E3ONAgAAQBAJ&dq=Ashwini+Kumar+hockey+president+forced+to+resign&pg=PA90 |title=India and the Olympics |last2=Mehta |first2=Nalin |date=2009-05-07 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-27575-4 |page=90 |language=en |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200945/https://books.google.com/books?id=E3ONAgAAQBAJ&dq=Ashwini+Kumar+hockey+president+forced+to+resign&pg=PA90 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwe2AAAAIAAJ |title=The Indian Review |publisher=G.A. Natesan & Company |year=1974 |volume=70 |pages=69–70 |language=en |access-date=23 January 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200957/https://books.google.com/books?id=dwe2AAAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kumar's other positions in Indian sports administration include being the Secretary General of the [[Indian Olympic Association]] (IOA) for two terms.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Indian Olympic Association. |url=https://olympic.ind.in/organisation |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=olympic.ind.in |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124111734/https://olympic.ind.in/organisation |url-status=live }}</ref> His first term as the Secretary General of the IOA lasted from 1956 to 1960 and his second term lasted from 1970 to 1974.<ref name=":9" /> Kumar eventually became the life President of the IOA.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Press Trust of India |first= |date=2015-10-19 |title=Former IOA President Ashwini Kumar passes away |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/former-ioa-president-ashwini-kumar-passes-away-115101901277_1.html |access-date=2023-01-24 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124085250/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/former-ioa-president-ashwini-kumar-passes-away-115101901277_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> For 12 years, he also served as the President of the Punjab Olympic Association and the President of the [[Basketball Federation of India]].<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=24zZCgAAQBAJ&dq=Ashwini+kumar+Indian+hockey+federation&pg=PA315 |title=Current Affairs October 2015 eBook: by Jagran Josh |publisher=Jagran Josh |year=2015 |editor-last=Josh |editor-first=Jagran |pages=315–316 |language=en |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413201003/https://books.google.com/books?id=24zZCgAAQBAJ&dq=Ashwini+kumar+Indian+hockey+federation&pg=PA315 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== International sports administration ===
Kumar was a member of the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) from 1973 to 2000, a member of the IOC Executive Board from 1980 to 1987 and from 1992 to 1996, Vice-President of the IOC from 1983 to 1987 and an honorary member of the IOC from 2000 to 2015.<ref name=":4" /> He also served on several IOC commissions and also served as the Vice-President of the [[International Hockey Federation]] for over 15 years.<ref name=":4" /> Kumar was the first individual from [[Asia]], [[Africa]] or [[Latin America]] to become Vice-President of the IOC.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Bala |first=Vijayan |date=2020-12-26 |title=A sports lover's century |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/a-sports-lovers-century/article33422896.ece |access-date=2023-01-24 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928020913/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/a-sports-lovers-century/article33422896.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

During his time in the IOC, Kumar became well known for his role in organising security for the Olympics.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krieger |first=Jörg |url= |title=Dark Sides of Sport |year=2019 |pages=48–55 |chapter=How Fears Changed the Games: Of Terror, Security and Costs |access-date=24 January 2023 |chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333669558}}</ref> In 1983, Kumar first presented his views on how security for the Olympics Games should be handled, and this led [[Juan Antonio Samaranch]], the IOC President at the time, to create the position of IOC Security Delegate for Kumar.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Duckworth |first=Austin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BzaFEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA66 |title=International Security and the Olympic Games, 1972–2020 |date=2022-08-24 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-031-05133-3 |pages=66–69 |language=en |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413201950/https://books.google.com/books?id=BzaFEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA66 |url-status=live }}</ref> He oversaw security for the Olympic Games from the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in [[Moscow]] to the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in [[Sydney]].<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Duckworth |first=Austin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BzaFEAAAQBAJ |title=International Security and the Olympic Games, 1972–2020 |date=2022-08-24 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-031-05133-3 |page=198 |language=en |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413201950/https://books.google.com/books?id=BzaFEAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kumar's leadership in and crucial contributions to Olympic security led to him being named Policeman of the Millennium in 2000 and he was also awarded an Olympic Order of Merit in 2002.<ref name=":10" />

== Awards ==

* [[Padma Bhushan]] - 1972
* [[Olympic Council of Asia]] Order of Merit - 1990<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WytBAQAAIAAJ |title=Asiaweek |publisher=Asiaweek Limited |year=1990 |volume=16 |page=46 |language=en}}</ref>
* IOC’s Centenary Award - 1994<ref name=":10" />
* Sports Distinction Medal by the [[Federal government of Brazil|Brazilian Government]] - 1996<ref name=":0" />
* Olympic Order of Merit - 2002

== Personal life ==
Kumar was married to Renu Kumar, the niece of [[Guru Dutt Sondhi]], who was the first Indian to become an IOC member.<ref name=":10" /> Kumar and Renu had two daughters: Rohini and Yamani.<ref name=":10" /> Kumar died on 15 October 2015, at the age of 94, in a hospital in [[New Delhi]], India.<ref name=":11" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Ashwini}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian sports executives and administrators]]
[[Category:Indian International Olympic Committee members]]
[[Category:Indian Police Service officers]]
[[Category:People from Jalandhar]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in civil service]]

Ashwini Kumar (sports administrator) - Revision history

Davidcza: added first bio initial version