Athletics Federation of India President and a Padma Bhushan recipient Umrao Singh died on Sunday in Jalandhar after a brief illness. He was 82.
The former Congress MP is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters.
Singh was not keeping well for the past few months due to a severe chest infection, family sources said.
AFI offered condolences on Singh's death.
"Athletics Federation of India is shocked by the news of the death of its President Sardar Umrao Singh, a former minister and a great sports administrator," AFI Secretary Lalit Bhanot said in a statement.
"Sardar Umrao Singh was associated with the Athletics Federation in various capacities for the past more than 50 years," he added.
Singh served as the AFI President two times. He was also a council member of the International Association of Athletics Federation.
He was conferred with Padam Bhushan for his contribution towards successful conduct of the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
He was also the founder president of Asian Athletics Association and senior member of Indian Olympic Association.