Randhir Singh, 79, Indian shooting legend and former Olympic Council of Asia President, died after age-related health issues, leaving a legacy in sports administration and athletics.
The Olympic Council of Asia has approved moving the Asian Games to odd-numbered years, starting with the 2031 edition in Doha, to serve as a qualifying event for the Olympics. The change was approved by the OCA executive board last weekend, allowing elite athletes more competition opportunities and raising the Games' overall standard. While this creates a five-year gap between the 2026 Japan Games and 2031 Qatar Games, sports officials say the long-term benefits outweigh the scheduling concern.
India has officially submitted an Expression of Interest to the Olympic Council of Asia to host the 2038 Asian Games, with Ahmedabad as the proposed host city. The IOA delegation led by president PT Usha submitted the bid during the OCA executive board meeting on the sidelines of the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. India last hosted the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982, having also hosted the inaugural edition in 1951.
The Olympic Council of Asia has agreed to discuss shifting the Asian Games to odd-numbered years, the year before the Summer Olympics, at a board meeting in Sanya, China. If approved, the 2030 Doha Games and 2034 Riyadh Games would move to 2031 and 2035 respectively. The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games remain unaffected, creating a five-year gap to the new 2031 Doha edition. The change would align the Asian Games with other continental multi-sport events and follows an IOC recommendation.
