Randhir Singh, a veteran sports administrator, on Sunday became the first Indian to be elected as the President of the Olympic Council Of Asia.

The five-time Olympian was the only candidate eligible for the role. He was unanimously elected as the President of the OCA with his tenure set to run from 2024 to 2028.

“The biggest thing is that all the bodies have been united…A lot of people don’t know that the Asian Games started in India..,” the  OCA president told ANI in an interview.

The 77-year-old has been the acting president of OCA since 2021, replacing Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait in the role after he was handed a 15-year ban from sports administration in May, 2024 over an ethics breach.

Randhir is one of the most influential sports administrators in India and Asian sports bodies. He was officially named the OCA president in the presence of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and top sports leaders from 45 countries.

He is the first Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the 1978 Asian Games and hails from Patiala in Punjab. The Olympic-level trap and skeet shooter belongs to a family of sportspersons, including, his uncle Maharaja Yadavindra Singh who played Test cricket for India and was a member of the IOC. His father Bhalindra Singh was also an FC cricketer and IOC Member from 1947 to 1992.

He also served as a member of the IOC between 2001 and 2014.