Former national representative in long distance running, Rajendra Prasad, has died at his home in Bilalevu, Nadroga, at the age of 73 after a prolonged battle with health issues.
Athletics Fiji says Prasad made history as the first Indo-Fijian to represent Fiji in athletics, paving the way for future generations of Indo-Fijian athletes.
They say his legacy inspired athletes such as Shiri Chand Mushroom, Rohan Prasad, Caleb Maybir, Binesh Prasad, Daniel Sitaram, Birendra Prasad, Davendra Prakash Singh, Moses Zarak Khan and many more.
Athletics Fiji says, a long-distance specialist, Prasad competed at the 1971 South Pacific Games in Tahiti, finishing 5th in both the 5,000 metres (16:24.4) and 10,000 metres (33:58.2).
These races were won by legendary Fijian runner Usaia Sotutu.
He was part of a distinguished team that featured standout athletes such as Sotutu, Samu Yavala, Tony Moore Jr., Miriama Tuisorisori Chambault, and team captain Sitiveni Rabuka, now Fiji’s Prime Minister.
Other leading athletes included 1968 Olympian Viliame Liga, Osea Malamala, Samu Bulai, Saimoni Joji, Samu Saumatua, Seru Gukilau, Bula Tora, Peceli Kina, Jone Soro, Make Liku, Elenor Phillips, and Torika Cavuka Tora.
Prasad honed his long-distance running skills while studying at St. John’s College in Cawaci and Corpus Christi Teachers College.
He emerged as a top cross-country champion, competing in races at Navuso Agricultural School, the USP Campus, and the original Buckhurst Park.
A founding member of Suva Harriers, the forerunner to Suva Hash House Harriers, he was known for his remarkable endurance and his signature style—running barefoot.
Athletics Fiji says his last major race was the 1980 Round Viti Levu Road Relay, where he teamed up with fellow distance great Shiri Chand Mushroom.
His nephew and namesake, Rajendra Prasad, was a double Pacific Games gold medalist (Samoa 2007 and PNG 2015) and won silver in the high jump at the Suva 2003 Pacific Games.
They say beyond athletics, Prasad dedicated his life to teaching and farming.
Athletics Fiji says a respected educator and a well-known figure in the Sigatoka Valley, he transported a weekly truckload of fresh produce from his own farm in Bemana, as well as neighboring farms, to the Suva Market.
Prasad is survived by his wife, Maria Rosa Prasad; son, David Tej Prasad; his daughter, Malti Marieta Prasad; and his sole surviving sister, Malti Dumaru.
He leaves behind a lasting legacy in Fijian sports, inspiring future generations of distance athletes.
Fiji Athletics extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the sporting community who mourn the loss of a true pioneer.
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