MUMBAI: Raninder Singh has become the first Indian to be elected one of the four vice-presidents of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), the apex governing body of shooting, Press Trust of India reports. Singh is also the head of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
In the elections held on Friday during the ISSF General Assembly meeting in Munich, the 51-year Singh secured 161 votes to make it to the coveted position. The body selected three more VPs, namely Kevin Kilty of Ireland (162 votes), USA’s Robert Mitchell (153 votes) and China’s Wang Yifu (146 votes)
Singh was quoted as saying to PTI: “More than myself I am happy that this was a moment of great honour for the country. India’s efforts in growing the sport have been widely recognised and this is a reflection of this recognition.
“I thank all those members who voted for me as well as my other elected colleagues and promise to do my level best to live up to their aspirations.
“I also want to thank my team at NRAI, the Government of India and the entire shooting fraternity, without whose continuous support and best wishes, this would not be possible.”
Last year, Singh was re-elected president of the NRAI for a four-year term with an overwhelming mandate in Mohali. In 2014, he got 22 out of 25 votes in the General Assembly meeting in Munich, becoming the first from the country to be elected as a member of the global body representing the sport of shooting. On the same day, he was also awarded the ISSF diploma of honour gold medal at the meeting.
