Former Indian shooter and veteran sports administrator Randhir Singh has been elected unopposed as the first Indian President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) during the 44th General Assembly in New Delhi.

Singh, 77, hails from a sporting family in Patiala, Punjab. He is a former Asian Games gold medalist in trap shooting and has been a key figure in sports administration for decades. His roles include Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association (1987-2012) and Vice-Chairman of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games organizing committee.

Singh served as OCA Secretary General from 1991 to 2015 and was later appointed Life Vice President. He became the OCA’s Acting President in 2021 before officially taking on the role of President in 2024. He has also been a member of the IOC and held various positions on its commissions.

Wishes poured in from athletes across the country, including Abhinav Bindra, Mary Kom, and Gagan Narang, lauding Singh’s contributions to Indian and Asian sports.