Olympic Council of Asia: Former Indian shooter Randhir Singh has been elected President of the Asian Olympic Council (OCA). This was officially announced at the 44th General Assembly held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi on Sunday. He was officially named OCA President in the presence of top officials from all 45 countries of Asia. 77-year-old Randhir Singh will hold the post from 2024 to 2028. Randhir Singh has also become the first Indian to become the President of the Asian Olympic Council (OCA).
Let us tell you that OCA is the main governing body for sports in Asia and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Randhir Singh was serving as the acting president of OCA since 2021. He got this responsibility when Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was banned for 15 years due to ethical violations in sports administration. Randhir Singh was the only candidate for the post of president, so he was elected unopposed.
Contribution to sports
Randhir Singh has been a distinguished sportsman and sports administrator. He has represented India in five Olympic Games from 1968 to 1984, making him only the second Indian to do so. He also participated in the Asian Games in 1978, 1982, 1986, and 1994. He won an individual gold medal in trap shooting in 1978 and a bronze medal in 1982, while in 1986 he won a silver medal in the trap shooting team event. Apart from this, he also represented India in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.
Career in sports administration
He served as Honorary Secretary General of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1987 to 2012. He was a member of the Governing Board of Sports Authority of India (SAI) and served till 2010. He was the Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee of 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. He served as Secretary General of OCA from 1991 to 2015. He was the founding Secretary General of Afro-Asian Sports Council (1998-2007). He was also the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee for the 2019 Asian Games.
Role in the IOC
Randhir Singh was a member of the IOC from 2001 to 2014, after which he became an honorary member. He contributed to several IOC commissions and served as the IOC representative to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from 2003 to 2005. In 2005 he became a member of WADA’s Finance and Administration Committee.
Honours and Awards
Awarded Arjuna Award in 1979. Received Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award. OCA Award of Merit (2005). ANOC Merit Award (2006). Awarded Olympic Order, Silver (2014).
Randhir Singh belongs to a family of sportspersons
It is worth noting that Randhir, who hails from Patiala in Punjab, belongs to a family of sportspersons. Randhir’s uncle Maharaja Yadavindra Singh played Test cricket for India and was a member of the IOC. His father Bhalindra Singh was also a first-class cricketer and was a member of the IOC between 1947 and 1992. Randhir, who participated in four Asian Games, won gold in trap shooting in 1978, bronze in 1982 and team silver in 1986. He also participated in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
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