Honorary lifetime president of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Padma Bhushan awardee Raj Kumar Khanna died here Tuesday after a brief illness.

The 81-year-old Khanna, who had been suffering from fever for the past few weeks, passed away early morning at Sir Gangaram Hospital.

Khanna served the game in various capacities and was non-playing captain of the Indian Davis Cup team that reached the finals in 1966.

He was senior vice president of the International Tennis Federation for six years and president of the Asian Tennis Association for four years.

Khanna was also the AITA secretary from 1966 to 1974 and occupied the same post again for four years from 1988.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1974 and Padma Bhushan the next year for his contribution to the game.

Khanna also served as president of AITA from 1992 to 2000 and is credited for turning around the body.

The R.K. Khanna stadium here - named after him - stands testimony to Khanna's dedication to Indian tennis.