KOTHAMANGALAM: Former athlete and G.V. Raja award winner VV Ibrahim (52) passed away. He was admitted to Ramayya Memorial Hospital in Bangalore on October 30 after testing positive for COVID-19. He died while undergoing treatment for respiratory ailments for about a month after his COVID test result returned negative.

At the Indian National Open Athletics Championships in 1981, he broke the national record in the high jump at the under-19 level. In the same year, he received the GV Raja Award. He won first place with a record at the National School Meet in 1979, became State Champion in 1982 and All India CISF Champion in 1990. Ibrahim is survived by wife Raseena, children Ameeya and Ahan.