Chandigarh, Jan 28 (IANS) The body of former Olympian and 1966 Jakarta Asian Games 400 metres gold medallist Ajmer Singh has been donated for medical research, his relatives said Thursday. The 70-year-old athlete died here Wednesday.

Ajmer Singh, who served as Panjab University's Director of Sports for several years, has donated his body for medical research at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here.

He was also a former vice-chancellor of the Laxmibai National University of Physical Education, Gwalior.

Born in a village in Punjab's Sangrur district, Ajmer Singh hit the headlines in the 1966 Jakarta Asian Games where he bagged the gold in 400 metres and silver in 200 metres.

He was a member of the Indian team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He was conferred the Arjuna Award for excellence in sports in 1966.

Punjab sports director and former Indian hockey team captain and Olympian Pargat Singh expressed sorrow on the demise of the former sprinter and able educationist.

'In his death, India has lost a leading sports personality who was an inspiration to all,' Pargat Singh said.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also condoled the death of Ajmer Singh.