Abhinav Bindra and Manu Bhaker have hailed the official appointment of compatriot and fellow shooting sport Olympian Randhir Singh as the first Indian President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
Singh, 77, who competed in shooting sport at five consecutive Olympics between 1968 and 1984 before developing a career in sports administration, was elected unopposed at the re-staged election that took place on Sunday at the 44th OCA General Assembly in New Delhi.
He had been leading the organisation as acting president since 2021, stepping in for Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait, who was banned from sports administration for 15 years due to ethical violations, and took up his new role after earning 44 of 45 possible votes – there was one abstention.
Bindra, who became India’s first individual Olympic champion in winning the 10m air rifle men event at the Beijing 2008 Games, commented: “Heartiest congratulations to Mr. Randhir Singh on being elected as the President of the Olympic Council of Asia.
“His decades-long dedication to sport, both as an Olympian and a leader, has left an indelible mark on the global sporting community.
“I am confident that under his visionary leadership, the OCA will continue to promote the Olympic ideals and elevate the standard of sport across Asia. Wishing him every success as he embarks on this prestigious role.”
Manu Bhaker, who became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting sport medal when she finished third in the 10m air pistol event at the Paris 2024 Games, later adding another bronze in the 10m air pistol team event, offered her own congratulations on the appointment, adding:
“His contribution to the Indian sports fraternity, both, as an athlete and as a leader, has been an inspiration for all generations of athletes.
“It is a matter of honour for us as Indians to have him at the helm of the prestigious OCA, and I am confident his spirited guidance and dedicated services will bore tremendous results for the sporting fraternity across Asia.”
In his acceptance speech, Singh said: “We are deeply honoured by the love and affection you’ve shown. With your support, you’ve proven that Asia is one, that Asia is one family.”
Singh became only the second Indian after Karni Singh to compete in five Olympics. He competed in mixed trap, producing his best performance at the 1968 Mexico Games, where he finished 17th, four points off bronze-medal position.
He competed at four Asian Games, winning individual gold in 1978 – the year he also competed at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton - and eventually collecting a complete set of medals, ending his international career in 1994.
By then he had been Secretary General of the OCA for three years.
Singh's move into the sports administration had begun in 1987 when he was appointed as the Honorary Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association, a position he held until 2012.
He was also Secretary General of OCA from 1991 to 2015 before becoming Life Vice President, a role he held up to the point where he stepped in as Acting President.
Singh is also an honorary member of the IOC, having been a full member from 2001 to 2014. He became a member of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in 2002
Among the honours Singh has received are the OCA Award of Merit in 2005, the Merit Award from ANOC in 2006, and the Olympic Order, Silver in 2014.