<p>Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday condoled the death of veteran athletics coach Purushottam Rai, who was to receive this year's Dronacharya award in the lifetime category.</p>.<p>Rai, who was to be bestowed the honour on Saturday and had even participated in the dress rehearsal for the first-of-its-kind virtual ceremony, died on Friday evening after suffering a heart attack in Bengaluru. He was 79.</p>.<p>"India lost veteran athletics coach Shri Puroshottam Rai on Friday. Shri Rai was to receive the Dronacharya (Lifetime) Award today at the virtual National Sports Awards ceremony. @KirenRijiju condoled his death and said, 'His contribution will always be remembered'," Rijiju tweeted.</p>.<p>The National Sports Awards ceremony will be held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rai was to receive the Dronacharya award from President Ram Nath Kovind in the lifetime category.</p>.<p>Rai began his coaching career after securing a diploma from Netaji Institute of Sports in 1974.</p>.<p>He coached top athletes such as Olympian quartermiler Vandana Rao, heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa, Ashwini Nachappa, Murali Kuttan, M K Asha, E B Shyla, Rosa Kutty and G G Pramila.</p>.<p>Rai also coached the Indian team for the 1987 World Athletics Championship, the 1988 Asian Track and Field Championships and the 1999 South Asian Games. </p>
<p>Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday condoled the death of veteran athletics coach Purushottam Rai, who was to receive this year's Dronacharya award in the lifetime category.</p>.<p>Rai, who was to be bestowed the honour on Saturday and had even participated in the dress rehearsal for the first-of-its-kind virtual ceremony, died on Friday evening after suffering a heart attack in Bengaluru. He was 79.</p>.<p>"India lost veteran athletics coach Shri Puroshottam Rai on Friday. Shri Rai was to receive the Dronacharya (Lifetime) Award today at the virtual National Sports Awards ceremony. @KirenRijiju condoled his death and said, 'His contribution will always be remembered'," Rijiju tweeted.</p>.<p>The National Sports Awards ceremony will be held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rai was to receive the Dronacharya award from President Ram Nath Kovind in the lifetime category.</p>.<p>Rai began his coaching career after securing a diploma from Netaji Institute of Sports in 1974.</p>.<p>He coached top athletes such as Olympian quartermiler Vandana Rao, heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa, Ashwini Nachappa, Murali Kuttan, M K Asha, E B Shyla, Rosa Kutty and G G Pramila.</p>.<p>Rai also coached the Indian team for the 1987 World Athletics Championship, the 1988 Asian Track and Field Championships and the 1999 South Asian Games. </p>