New Delhi, India, September 8, 2024: OCA Acting President Raja Randhir Singh congratulated the Asian National Olympic Committees on their performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during his opening address at the 44th OCA General Assembly in New Delhi on Sunday.
A total of 22 Asian NOCs won at least one medal at Paris, and 13 of those went home with gold.
“This was a fantastic effort by our Asian NOCs. You represented your continent with pride and dignity and presented a powerful, positive image of Asia to the world,” Raja Randhir said.
“There is no doubt that the success of Asia at Paris 2024 was due to the quality of our Asian Games. Last year in Hangzhou, China, the athletes competed in world-class venues and lived in a world-class Olympic Village.
“The Hangzhou Asian Games proved to be a big stepping stone on the road to Paris 2024 for our athletes and NOCs, and we are sure that the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in 2026 will do the same for the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.”
“Finally, I would like to thank you all for the extraordinary support and goodwill I have received as OCA Acting President.
“I would also like to thank you for putting my name forward as the sole candidate for OCA President. I am very humbled and very proud.
“I vow that I will continue to serve Asia, to serve you NOCs and our Asian athletes to the best of my ability and to keep the OCA moving Ever Onward,” he concluded, referring to the official slogan of the OCA.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, said the Indian Government was investing heavily in sport – 470 million USD today compared to 143 million in USD in 2014-2015. This had produced a record 107 medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and 111 medals at the Asian Para Games.
J.P. Nadda, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, praised the contribution of Raja Randhir Singh to Indian sport as an Olympic shooter and administrator. He added that India was hoping to turn the vision of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games into a reality. He also praised the OCA for including non-Olympic sports such as wushu and kabaddi into the Asian Games.
P.T. Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association and Asian Games champion sprinter, said India had always shown deep respect for the Olympic Movement and spoke of the ever-evolving global sports landscape. She added that she was very confident the OCA would continue to flourish under Raja Randhir Singh and spread its influence across the continent.
