Randhir Singh (shooter)
Encyclopedia
Raja Randhir Singh, born 18 October 1946 in Patiala, Punjab
, India
, is a former Olympic-level trap
and skeet shooter
and now sports administrator. He is currently the sole representative for India
on the International Olympic Committee. He is a 1979 recipient of the Arjuna Award
.
, son of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
of Patiala. He studied at the Yadavindra Public School in Patiala and earned a B.A. in History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
.He is married to Rani Uma Kumari of Sirmur.
He comes from a family of influential sporting administrators. His uncle, Test cricketer Maharaja Yadavindra Singh
, played an important part in lobbying for and then organizing the first Asian Games
in 1951 in Delhi. His father Raja Bhalender Singh was a member of the IOC from 1947 to 1992 and helped bring the 9th Asian Games
back to New Delhi in 1982.
He became the first Indian shooter to win continental gold at the 1978 Asian Games
in Bangkok
. On home soil four years later, he won team silver at the 1982 Asian Games
in New Delhi
.
He competed at five Olympic Games from 1968 to 1984 in Mixed Trap. He was the second Indian, after Karni Singh, to compete at five Olympics. His best Olympic performance was 17th at the 1968 Olympics, two points behind Karni Singh and four points from bronze. He also competed at four Asian Games, winning a medal of each color.
in Hyderabad in 2003
.
He was involved in bringing the 2010 Commonwealth Games
to India, and had been the Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee. He is the only senior office bearer of the controversial Organizing committee who has so far enjoyed clean image unlike many others.
He has been Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association
since 1987, Secretary General of Olympic Council of Asia
since 1991, and member of the
International Olympic Committee since 2001, and member of the Association of National Olympic Committees Executive Board
since 2002. Recently he was re-elected for the sixth time the Secretary General of the OCA. He has also served as member of the World Anti-Doping Agency Foundation Board
(2003–2005) and on the following commissions: Olympic Games Study (2002–2003), Sport for All (2004-), Women and Sport (2006-), Coordination for the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games
in Singapore in 2010 (2008-); Olympic Truce Foundation (2007-).
He was awarded an honorary D.Litt. in sports science from Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education.
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, is a former Olympic-level trap
Trap shooting
Trap shooting is one of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting . The others are skeet shooting and sporting clays. There are many versions including Olympic trap, Double trap , Down-The-Line, and Nordic trap. American trap is most popular in the United States and Canada...
and skeet shooter
Skeet shooting
Skeet shooting is one of the three major types of competitive shotgun target shooting sports . There are several types of skeet, including one with Olympic status , and many with only national recognition.- General principles :Skeet is a recreational and competitive activity where...
and now sports administrator. He is currently the sole representative for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on the International Olympic Committee. He is a 1979 recipient of the Arjuna Award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
.
Family background
He was born to Raja Bhalindra SinghBhalindra Singh
Raja Bhalindra Singh was an Indian first class cricketer and Maharajkumar of Patiala. His father was Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and his brother Yuvraj of Patiala played Test cricket for India....
, son of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh may refer to:* Bhupinder Singh , Indian singer and musician popularly known by his first name* Bhupinder Singh of Patiala , Maharaja of Patiala* Bhupinder Singh, Sr. , Indian cricketer...
of Patiala. He studied at the Yadavindra Public School in Patiala and earned a B.A. in History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
.He is married to Rani Uma Kumari of Sirmur.
He comes from a family of influential sporting administrators. His uncle, Test cricketer Maharaja Yadavindra Singh
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh
Maharajadhiraj Sir Yadavindra Singh Mahendra Bahadur, GCIE, GBE was Maharaja of Patiala from 1938 to 1974. Moreover, he was an Indian cricketer who played in one Test in 1934...
, played an important part in lobbying for and then organizing the first Asian Games
1951 Asian Games
The 1951 Asian Games, officially known as the First Asian Games, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Delhi, India from 4 to 11 March 1951. The Games received names like First Asiad and 1951 Asiad by the president of the organising committee Anthony de Mello...
in 1951 in Delhi. His father Raja Bhalender Singh was a member of the IOC from 1947 to 1992 and helped bring the 9th Asian Games
1982 Asian Games
The 9th Asian Games were held from November 19, 1982 to December 4, 1982 in Delhi, India.An incredible 74 Asian and Asian Games records were broken. This was also the first Asiad to be held under the aegis of the Olympic Council of Asia.-Sports:...
back to New Delhi in 1982.
Career as shooter
He made his competitive senior shooting debut as an eighteen year old when he was part of the winning trap shooting team at the Indian National Championships in 1964. His team defended the title the next year, and he won his first national individual title in 1967 in skeet. He went on to win multiple titles at national level in both skeet and trap shooting.He became the first Indian shooter to win continental gold at the 1978 Asian Games
1978 Asian Games
The 8th Asian Games were held from December 9, 1978 to December 20, 1978 in Bangkok, Thailand. Originally, the host city was Singapore but Singapore dropped its plan to host the Games due to financial problems. And then Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan was decided to host the 8th Games...
in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. On home soil four years later, he won team silver at the 1982 Asian Games
1982 Asian Games
The 9th Asian Games were held from November 19, 1982 to December 4, 1982 in Delhi, India.An incredible 74 Asian and Asian Games records were broken. This was also the first Asiad to be held under the aegis of the Olympic Council of Asia.-Sports:...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
He competed at five Olympic Games from 1968 to 1984 in Mixed Trap. He was the second Indian, after Karni Singh, to compete at five Olympics. His best Olympic performance was 17th at the 1968 Olympics, two points behind Karni Singh and four points from bronze. He also competed at four Asian Games, winning a medal of each color.
Sports administrator
He was Founder Secretary General of the Afro-Asian Games Council (1998–2007), and helped lead the organization of the only Afro-Asian GamesAfro-Asian Games
The Afro-Asian Games are a series of inter-continental multi-sport competitions, held between athletes from Asia and Africa. These Games are one-of-a-kind, since no other sporting competition brings athletes from these two continents together for one event, excluding the Olympic Games. These Games...
in Hyderabad in 2003
2003 Afro-Asian Games
The 2003 Afro-Asian Games, officially known as the First Afro-Asian Games or I Afro-Asian Games and unofficially known as the Inaugural Afro-Asian Games, was a major international multi-sport event held in Hyderabad, India, from October 24 to November 1, 2003.The Afro-Asian Games...
.
He was involved in bringing the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
to India, and had been the Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee. He is the only senior office bearer of the controversial Organizing committee who has so far enjoyed clean image unlike many others.
He has been Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association
Indian Olympic Association
The Indian Olympic Association is the body responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at the events...
since 1987, Secretary General of Olympic Council of Asia
Olympic Council of Asia
The Olympic Council of Asia is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees. The current president is Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah. The oldest NOC is from Japan and Philippines, recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1911; whereas East Timor is...
since 1991, and member of the
International Olympic Committee since 2001, and member of the Association of National Olympic Committees Executive Board
National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
since 2002. Recently he was re-elected for the sixth time the Secretary General of the OCA. He has also served as member of the World Anti-Doping Agency Foundation Board
World Anti-Doping Agency
The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...
(2003–2005) and on the following commissions: Olympic Games Study (2002–2003), Sport for All (2004-), Women and Sport (2006-), Coordination for the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games
2010 Summer Youth Olympics
The 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, officially known as the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games , were an international multi-sport event for youths that took place in the city-state of Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010, in the XXIX Olympiad. They were the inaugural Summer Youth Olympics, a major...
in Singapore in 2010 (2008-); Olympic Truce Foundation (2007-).
He was awarded an honorary D.Litt. in sports science from Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education.