The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) mourned the death of distance-running legend Hari Chand, who passed away on Sunday evening.

Two-time Olympian Chand, 69, was winner of the 5000m and 10000m gold medals in the 1978 Asian Games as well as the 10000m gold in the 1975 Asian Athletics Championships.

Chand’s national record time of 28:48.72 in 10000m, set in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, stood for 32 years before Surendra Singh bettered it. Running barefoot, he had finished eighth in his 10000m heats in 29:48.72. Four years later, in the Moscow Games, he clocked 29:45.8 to finish 10th in the 10000m heats and 2:22:08 to finish 31st among 74 starters.

AFI president Adille J. Sumariwalla led the condolences.

“Hari Chand, my teammate in the 1980 Olympic Games, is a legend of Indian sport. It saddens me and the entire fraternity that he has passed. It is a loss to the community as well,” said Sumariwalla.