New IOA Head Targets Olympic Hosting

(ATR) New Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra says India could host an Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, or Olympic Games by 2030.

Batra was elected today President of the IOA unopposed after All India Tennis Association President Anil Khanna withdrew. The final results of the election are subject to review from a Delhi high court pending a previous legal challenge, according to reports from ANI.

The court is reviewing if the elections were held in accordance to the country’s sport code. A challenge to secure an injunction halting the elections was unsuccessful.

Batra, who is alsoInternational Hockey Federation (FIH) president, takes over from N Ramachandran, who did not attend the elections. Ramachandran visited IOC President Thomas Bach in Lausanne last week to say farewell.

"My intention is to see that India should improve its medal tally in every event and work with the sports ministry to ensure better involvement of all the stakeholders," Batra said after the election, according to India Today. "My belief is we should think big. We can host the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in the future, even the Olympics, maybe in 2030."

India last hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The Games were marred by corruption allegations, missed construction deadlines, and logistical complications. New Delhi hosted the Asian Games in 1982.

Government leaders have begun feasibility studies to see if India could host an Olympic Games as soon as 2032. Ramachandran said at the time the process would require many layers of government approval and was only at the beginning.

If India bids for the 2032 Games, early reports indicate competition could come from Africa, Australia, or Germany.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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