Mehar Chand Dhawan

Indian sportsman Mehar Chand Dhawan was a track and field athlete, coach, and sports administrator. Dhawan competed in the triple jump at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics where he finished 14th with a best effort of 13.66 metres. He was also part of the quartet that ran in the 4 x 100 metres relay. After the Olympics Dhawan took part in the Western Asiatic Games held in Delhi in 1934, where he won gold in the triple jump and silver in the javelin.

In 1950 Dhawan was elected as the honorary secretary of the Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) and led the contingent from Rajputana at the first edition of the National Games of India. During the National Games he and his brother came up with the idea of hosting the first Asian Games. A year later their idea became a reality when the inaugural edition of the Asian Games took place in New Delhi in March 1951. After the Asian Games Dhawan trained in athletics coaching at Loughborough College in England before studying athletics, education, and youth welfare work in the United States in 1955. With his new-found skills he became the head coach of the Indian athletics team at the 1960 Roma Olympics, with him training the great Milkha Singh.

Personal Bests: 100 – unknown; TJ – 14.29 (1935).