44th Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly concludes successfully in New Delhi
New Delhi : Legendary Indian shooter and sports administrator Raja Randhir Singh was officially declared as the new head of the Olympic Council of Asia, as the 44th OCA General Assembly concluded successfully at the Bharat Mandapam on Sunday. Hon’ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Hon’ble Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, and Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha, were also in attendance along with sports leader from all 45 Asian countries.
President, Olympic Council of Asia, Raja Randhir Singh further added, “I thank everyone for the extraordinary support and goodwill and putting across my name as the sole candidate for the top position. I promise I will continue to serve Asia and the Asian athletes to the best of my abilities and to keep the OCA moving forward. It is truly an honour and privilege for India to be hosting the General Assembly. I congratulate Asian National Olympic Committees for the successful performance at the Paris Olympic Games. It presented a powerful and positive image of Asia in the world. There is no doubt that success of Asia in Paris 2024 was due to the quality of Asian Games in Hangzhou. We promise to assure that the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, 2026 will do the same for the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.”
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers JP Nadda, “With our efforts we can help sports as a symbol unity. Sports is not just a competition, it promotes harmony and help in keeping a good mental health. Under able leadership of PM Modi India has already hosted large scale International Sporting events in the last 10 years.”
Speaking after the OCA elections, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “We stand united in our mission to elevate sports standards across our continent, in line with the Olympic ideals. Under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the government has significantly increased the sports budget, leading to India’s laudable performance at numerous International games. Through the implementation of initiatives such as ‘Khelo India’, the ASMITA program, and TOPS, we are fostering grassroots talent identification, promoting gender equality, and preparing our athletes for global competitions. With the aim of hosting various global Games and championships, we are committed to welcoming the world with open arms and ensuring fair, clean competition. Together, we will strengthen Asia’s sporting legacy and inspire future generations.”
Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha said, “Raja Randhir Singh’s election as OCA President is the testament of his commitment towards the Olympic Asian Council and sports.
India is honoured to host this prestigious assembly, and I extend a warm welcome to all the distinguished delegates from over 45 countries. We are committed to supporting the Olympic Movement and fostering a culture of sportsmanship, teamwork, and excellence. The General Assembly we are attending today is not just a formal gathering; it is a platform where ideas are exchanged, where the future of sports is envisioned, and where nations come together to promote peace and harmony through sport. As we prepare for upcoming Asian and Olympic events, we reaffirm our collective commitment to nurturing talent, encouraging fair play, and ensuring that athletes are given the opportunity to shine on the world stage.”
44th Olympic Council of Asia Election results :
OCA President: Raja Randhir Singh (India)
OCA Vice Presidents:
East Asia: Timothy Fok (Hong Kong, China)
Southeast Asia: Dr Norza Zakaria (Malaysia)
South Asia: HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck (Bhutan)
West Asia: Dr Thani Al-Kuwari (Qatar)
Central Asia: Otabek Umarov (Uzbekistan)
Executive Board members:
East Asia: Ms. Mikako Kotani (Japan)
Southeast Asia: Prof. Dr. Supitr Samahito (Thailand)
Central Asia: Ms. Olga Rybakova (Kazakhstan)
West Asia: Noora Al Jasmi (United Arab Emirates)
South Asia: No candidate
The all-important event was also highlighted by the inclusion of Yoga as a demonstration sport in the upcoming edition of the Asian Games, a matter close to the Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s heart. Meanwhile, the Hangzhou Asian Games committee and the committee for the upcoming 2026 Nagoya Asian Games gave important presentations to outline the future roadmap for the Games.
About Olympics Council of Asia– The Olympic Council Of Asia (OCA) is an independent non-governmental no-for-profit international Asian sport organization for unlimited duration recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC) and the 45 member Asian National Olympic Committee (NOCs).