Himanta Biswa Sarma was elected the vice-president of Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) during the Annual General Meeting of the continental body in Bangkok and Thailand.
Sarma replaces former Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Akhilesh Das Gupta who died on 12 April 2017.
“I would like to thank all the member bodies of BAC for instilling their faith in me. It is an honour and responsibility that I would like to deliver to the best of my capacities. I shall contribute my best to strengthen the region and bring in better coordination among Asian countries,” Sarma said after the AGM.
. @himantabiswa, President #BAI has been unanimously elected as the Vice President, @Badminton_Asia on Thursday during the ongoing AGM of the Asian Body in Bangkok. Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma is also a Chairman, Para Committee, Badminton Asia Confederation. #IndiaontheRise pic.twitter.com/1Gpk7A7S74
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) May 17, 2018
Badminton Asia has 43 members in the association, including India. BAC is the governing body of the sport in Asia, under the flagship of the Badminton World Federation.
Devender Singh, senior vice president of Badminton Association of India (BAI) and Omar Rashid, secretory events of BAI, was also present in AGM. Sarma is also the Chairman of the Badminton Asia Confederation’s Para Committee.
Dr. Sarma, an Indian Politician and associated as a member with the Bharatiya Janata Party from May 2016 was unanimously elected as President of Badminton Association of India, on 23rd April, last year. He has also served as the President of the Assam Badminton Association.
Sarma tweeted that he was “humbled and honoured” to be elected Badminton Asia vice president. “In this new role and as president of BAI, I shall contribute my best to strengthen badminton in the region and bring in better coordination among Asian countries.
Congratulating BAI President, General Secretary BAI, Ajay Kumar Singhania said, “It is an extremely proud moment for all of us. This appointment will be a huge boost for Indian badminton as well in making BAI stronger than ever in Asia and help in further developing the sport in the country going forward.”
