Randhir Singh Set To Become First Indian To Head Olympic Council of Asia After September Elections

Former international shooter and veteran sports administrator Randhir Singh is set to become the first Indian president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) after emerging as the sole candidate for the top post for the September 8 elections. The 77-year-old Singh, a former member of the International Olympic Council (IOC) and ex secretary general of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was currently serving as the acting chief of the continental sports apex body. "The OCA election commission can confirm that OCA acting president Randhir Singh is the sole eligible candidate to be nominated for election of the OCA General Assembly on 8 September, 2024," the OCA said in a statement.

"The Election Committee, chaired by Justice Rohinton Nariman (former judge of Supreme Court of India), met today to review the CVs and eligibility requirements as per OCA Constitution, the Election Rules and Guidelines, of all nominated candidates submitted by Member NOCs of OCA by 21 July 2024 deadline.

"The Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Mr Singh who was nominated by the NOC of India and supported by 27 Member NOCs of OCA." Mongolian Olympic Committee President Battushig Batbold was deemed ineligible by the Election Committee as he does not fulfil the eligibility requirements set out in the relevant articles of the Constitution which envisage that the candidate must either have served as president of his NOC (National Olympic Committee) for at least eight years or served as an OCA Executive Board member for at least eight years and must be supported by two NOCs.

Subsequently, the Election Committee was informed by the Secretary General of Mongolia NOC that Batbold has withdrawn his candidature from the OCA president's post.

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