Tribune News Network
Kuwait City (Kuwait)
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has announced the names of Qatar’s world high jump and Asian and Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim along with Indian luge legend Shiva Keshavan and Japan’ high jumper Naoto Tobe as three additional members on the newly-elected OCA Athletes’ Committee.
At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8, the athletes voted for nine members of the committee in the first athlete elections in OCA history.
As there was no male candidate from South Asia, the OCA appointed Indian Shiva Keshavan, a six-time Winter Olympian starting from Nagano 1998 through to PyeongChang 2018, to fill this gap.
In addition, the OCA has appointed two members from the hosts of the next two Asian Games – Japan’s Naoto Tobe and Qatar’s Olympic and Asian Games champion Mutaz Barshim.
In a circular to the OCA’s National Olympic Committees and Executive Board members, Acting President Raja Randhir Singh said: "As you are aware, during the Hangzhou Asian Games, the elections for the Athletes Committee were held, wherein the athletes voted and elected their fellow athletes to be members of the OCA Athletes Committee.
"In addition, since there was no nomination for male athlete from South Asia, the OCA has nominated a Winter male athlete to be part of the Committee.
"Also, as per the guidelines, two athletes have been selected from the host country of the 20th Asian Games (Japan) and 21st Asian Games (Qatar).
"Shortly, an online meeting of the Athletes Committee will be called to introduce the members.”
OCA Athletes’ Committee
East Asia: Chun Ho Lee - HKG (male), Ning Ding - CHN (female)
Southeast Asia: Tay Terry – SGP (male), Ng Shayna - SGP (female)
South Asia: Saina Nehwal - IND (female), Shiva Keshavan – IND (male - Nominated Winter Sports)
Central Asia: Merdan Atayev - TKM (male), Zulhumar Dashkinova - TKM (female)
West Asia: Husein Alireza - KSA (male), Julyana Al Sadeq – JOR (female)
Nominated Members: Naoto Tobe (Japan) – Host country of 20th Asian Games, Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) – Host country of 21st Asian Games.
The members will select a Chair and Vice Chair of the new OCA Athletes Committee for the term 2023-2026.