Ill-Health Ends Randhir Singh's Tenure As Olympic Council of Asia President Prematurely

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 20:47 IST

Randhir Singh, who is 79 years old, has been unwell for some time.

Randhir Singh was member of the IOC between 2001 and 2014. (PTI Photo)

Veteran Indian sports administrator Randhir Singh’s tenure as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will be cut short due to his ill health, prompting the election of a new leader during the General Assembly in Tashkent on Monday.

Randhir Singh made history in September 2024 by becoming the first Indian elected as OCA president during the 44th General Assembly. He was elected for a four-year term lasting until 2028. However, after approximately 17 months in office, a new chief will be appointed in Uzbekistan’s capital.

“He (Randhir) is unable to perform his duties and functions due to his ill health, necessitating the election of a new OCA president," a reliable source in the OCA informed PTI on Sunday.

Randhir Singh, who is 79 years old, has been unwell for some time.

Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani is expected to be elected as the new OCA president on Monday, being the sole candidate for the position. This appointment comes at a significant time as the Asian Games will be held in Japan later this year.

The OCA’s General Assembly is being held in Tashkent from January 24 to 27, with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) also in attendance.

A five-time Olympic shooter, Randhir was the only candidate for the OCA president’s post when he was elected in 2024. His term was intended to run from 2024 to 2028.

Previously, Randhir served as the OCA’s acting president from 2021, stepping in for Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who received a 15-year ban from sports administration in 2024 for ethics breaches. Randhir led the OCA during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Hailing from Patiala in Punjab and from a family of sportspersons, Randhir has held various administrative roles in Indian and Asian sports bodies. He was the Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1987 to 2012.

He was also an IOC member between 2001 and 2014, and later continued as an honorary member of the global sports body.

With PTI Inputs

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