Mr. Virender Kumar Pahuja was an honorable and compassionate man. His selfless service to the field of aquatics has impacted many lives. His noble thinking and dedication supported countless to fulfill their dreams, also helped many to have a dream. Mr. Virender Kumar Pahuja was born on 16th November 1945 in Sindh (those years India). He had to struggle and strive hard to achieve his dreams since his childhood as his family had to shift from their hometown after the partition. Mr. Pahuja attended Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi from 1950 to 1962 for his elementary and secondary education. He was an outstanding sportsman in his school days, he won several medals and dominated Delhi state. He played football and swimming at National level and Water polo at International Level. He was also a member of Indian water polo team for Indo-Sri Lanka dual meet held at Trivandrum in 1973. Mr. Pahuja lost his father in August’1962, at that time he was a student of B.A. (Pass Course) at St. Stephens College, Delhi University, Delhi. At that hard time, the Modern School Authorities were kind and helpful by providing him a job as Library Assistant on humanitarian grounds. Being a determined man, Mr. Pahuja qualified as a Swimming Coach from N.I.S. Patiala in 1963 ( First Batch conducted by Hungarian Coach, Dr. Otto Demjen ). After returning from Patiala on his successful completion of N.I.S. Swimming Course he was transferred in Games Department from 1st November ‘1963. Being a first qualified Swimming Coach in Delhi, he realized the responsibility and necessity of Higher Education. He did his Graduation from Delhi College now known as (Zakhir Hussain College) in B.A. Pass in 1964 to 1967, and he completed his Post Graduation from M.M. College, Ghaziabad in Political Science in 1969. He switched over from Sports to Academics in 1967 as Hindi teacher in Modern School; he did his B.Ed in 1974. Since then he was regularly teaching Hindi and Social Studies classes in the Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School, Humayun Road, New Delhi.
Childhood Photograph
Mr. V.K. Pahuja with his parents

After school hours he continued actively his Swimming coaching at various swimming pools and clubs. He trained many swimmers who won Laurels at the National and International Level.  He was also very actively involved at the National Aquatics as a Technical official and Water polo referee since 1976.

When the Government of India decided to hold Asian Games in 1982 at Delhi, at the time India did not have any International Water polo Referee. Mr. Pahuja then decided to qualify as International Water polo Referee. In 1980, he got a chance to qualify at Chendu- (China) in the friendship Water polo Tournament held at Chendu. He became the first and only one International Water polo Referee in the country in 1980. As the Asian Games came closer, India needed more Technical Officials, so the Swimming Federation of India organized a clinic for Technical officials in Swimming, Diving and Water polo in New Delhi in 1982 with the help of F.I.N.A. –International Body which controls the Swimming, Water Polo, and Diving in the world.

International Water Polo Referee he got the Chance to refer in the 4th World Championship at Equator-1980, Asian Games, Delhi 1982, World Junior Water polo Tournament-Barcelona, Spain 1983 and Asian Swimming Championship-South Korea in1984.

One of his biggest contributions to the field of swimming was the Swimming Statistical Bulletin, which is acknowledged as the bible for swimming in India (by Hindu newspaper). Swimming Statistical Bulletin is a solitary book of Swimming Statistics that is considered very useful for swimmers, coaches, Administrators, Ministry of Sports, S.A.I. It helps to clear Swimmers for the participation in the International championships. Indian Olympic Association also uses this as a reference book.