The 44th Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly will be held on Sunday, September 8, at the Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Former Indian shooter Randhir Singh will be officially appointed as the first Indian President of the Olympic Council of Asia during the ceremony, which will be attended by noteworthy figures such as Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and top sports officials from all 45 Asian nations.
Randhir Singh was overwhelmingly voted to the top office by OCA representatives earlier this year after emerging as the single contender. The 77-year-old sports star is from Patiala, Punjab, and was born into a sporty family. His uncle, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh.
Randhir Singh competed in four Asian Games from 1978 to 1994, earning the Individual Gold Medal in Trap Shooting in 1978, the Individual Bronze Medal in Trap Shooting in 1982, and the Team Silver Medal in Trap Shooting in 1986. Raja Ranjit Singh received the coveted Arjuna Award in 1979, as well as the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, for his remarkable sports career.
His venture into sports administration began during his athletic career when he was named Honourary Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association in 1987, a post he retained until 2012. In 1987, he joined the Sports Authority of India’s governing body. and held the position until 2010. He was also the Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee in Delhi in 2010.
He was named Secretary General of the OCA in 1991 and served until 2015 before becoming Life Vice President, a post he maintained until 2021 when he was chosen Acting President of the organization. Raja Randhir Singh became the Afro-Asian Games Council’s Founder Secretary General in 1998 and served until 2007. Between 2003 and 2005, he was chosen as the IOC delegate to the WADA Board.