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Official Newsletter of the Olympic Council of Asia Edition 49 - June 2020
HELLO HANGZHOU!
MEET THE NEW ASIAN GAMES MASCOTS
OCA Games Update
OCA Advisory Commi�ee
OCA Sports Calendar
OCA and COVID-19
Contents
Inside Sporting Asia Edition 49 – June 2020
3 President’s Message
11 4-7 News in Pictures
8-9 Awards
10 - 11 Inside the OCA
12 - 16 OCA Games Updates
20 17 - 20
21
Asia/Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifier
Road to Tokyo: Table Tennis
22 - 25 Olympic Spirit in COVID-19
26 - 27 Women in Sport
28 - 29 News in Brief
22 30 - 34 Obituary
36 OCA Sports Diary/Sponsors Club
Enjoy E-mobility @ the Asian Games with Geely
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group was founded in 1986 and entered
the automotive industry in 1997. Since then, it has grown with a
dedication towards technological innovation, talent cultivation,
tempering of core strengths, sustainability. Geely has developed
into a global enterprise engaged in the design, R&D, production,
sales, and service of vehicles, powertrains, and key components.
The Group is in the midst of transforming into a global mobility
technology enterprise engaged in the fields of mobility services,
digital technology, financial services, education, sports, and other
business. In 2019, Geely Holding Group was listed on the Fortune
Global 500 for eight consecutive years with annual sales of over
2.17 million vehicles, assets totaling over 330 billion RMB, and
employing more than 120,000 people.
Headquartered in Hangzhou, the group owns several brands
including Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, Geometry, Volvo Cars, Polestar,
PROTON, Lotus, London Electric Vehicle Company, Farizon Auto,
Terrafugia, CAOCAO, Qianjiang Motorcycle, Joma, Saxo Bank,
Mitime Group, etc. The group and its subsidiaries have set up a
global development network with R&D and design centres located
around the world. The Group operates world-class manufacturing
facilities in China, US, UK, Sweden, Belgium, Belarus, and Malaysia.
Geely is also the largest shareholder in Volvo AB and Daimler AG.
In April 2019, Geely Holding Group became the official prestige
partner of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Under the slogan
“Enjoy E-mobility @ the Asian Games with Geely,” the Group will
empower the games with green, intelligent, and humanistic
technologies. Geely will develop a series of full autonomous
mobility solutions by 2022 to service the 19th Asian Games.
Page 02
President’s Message
OLYMPIC SPIRIT SHINES BRIGHTLY
IN DARK DAYS OF COVID-19
Sporting Asia is the official
newsletter of the Olympic
Council of Asia, published
quarterly.
Executive Editor / Director General
Husain Al-Musallam
husain@ocasia.org
Director, Int’l & NOC Relations
Vinod Tiwari
vinod@ocasia.org
Director, Asian Games Department
Haider A. Farman
haider@ocasia.org
Editor
Jeremy Walker
jeremy@ocasia.org
A t the turn of the year, the world was
looking forward to a summer of celebration
This was the first time in history that the
Olympics had been postponed and we all
– the Olympic Games in Tokyo. had to accept the “new-norm” and embrace
Executive Secretary
the changes that needed to be made.
Nayaf Sraj It would be a time for athletes from all conti-
nayaf@ocasia.org Once again I think the Olympic family has
nents to gather together and inspire us with
their heroic deeds and golden achievements shown a true team spirit in adapting to the
Olympic Council of Asia – and, for some, to write their name in conditions and overcoming the challenges
PO Box 6706, Hawalli
Zip Code 32042 Olympic history. one by one.
Kuwait
Telephone: +965 22274277 - 88 Then along came COVID-19 and the world The International Olympic Committee, the
Fax: +965 22274280 - 90 stopped. Tokyo 2020 organising committee, the
Email: info@ocasia.org International Federations, the National
Website: www.ocasia.org
Our sports events were called off; our Olympic Committees and individual
athletes were forced to go into lockdown athletes around the world put the disap-
and train at home; and our world was pointment behind them, rolled up their
devastated by the loss of human life. sleeves and began planning for Tokyo 2020
– in 2021.
Today, our world is a much different place to
the one at the turn of the year when every- The world will eventually return to normal –
thing seemed so positive and the outlook so including our world of sport and our
bright. cherished Olympic Movement.
But, even in these darkest days, the Olympic Until then, stay safe, stay strong and follow
Movement has displayed all the characteris- the guidelines to protect yourself and others.
tics that make it so special and so unique:
Front Cover: the cooperation and understanding in At the end of this, we will meet again and
The mascot triplets for the dealing with this new set of circumstances; celebrate a victory greater than anything we
19th Asian Games Hang- the team spirit in working together towards a have witnessed on the sports field.
zhou 2022. collective goal; the resolute determination
to emerge victorious.
The biggest sports casualty of all, of course,
was the Olympic Games and Paralympic
Games in Tokyo which have now been put Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah
back a year to the summer of 2021. President, Olympic Council of Asia
Page 03
News in Pictures PALESTINE Olympic Committee President Gen. Jibril Rajoub praised the hard work and dedication of female staff within the local Olympic sports movement as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. “She is the mother, the sister and the daugh- ter that we cherish,” he said, while praising the effort and determination they have showed in breaking down stereotypes. ASIAN Games 2018 MVP Rikako Ikee is back in the pool ANOC Merit Award winner Firas Mualla is the new Presi- after 406 days of treatment and recovery since being dent of the Syrian Olympic Committee. The renowned diagnosed with leukemia in February 2019 – just six long-distance swimmer was elected as head of the months after winning six gold medals and two silver General Sports Federation and of the Syrian Olympic medals in Jakarta. The 19-year-old Japanese swimmer Committee in the 10th public conference of the General posted two pictures on her Instagram account on March Sports Federation held on February 16. (Photo: The Syria 17 to share the latest developments in her life. Times) Page 04
News in Pictures
CHINESE Olympians
joined local sports
officials at the official
opening of the new
Athlete Training and
Development Centre next
to the East Asian Games
Dome in Macau, China.
The local officials were:
Pun Weng Kun, President
of the Sports Bureau of
the Macau SAR Govern-
ment and Vice President
of the Sports and Olym-
pic Committee of
Macau, China; Charles
Lo, President of the
Olympic Committee and
OCA Executive Board
member; and Carson Ma
Chi Seng, head of the
Youth Committee and
Treasurer of the Olympic
Committee.
CHINESE Taipei Olympic Committee celebrated Interna- WORLD badminton champion PV Sindhu is one of the
tional Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6 new ambassadors for the Badminton World Federation’s “I
with a “white card” campaign as a symbol of peace. The am badminton” integrity campaign. The Indian superstar
22 elite athletes taking part included Chieh Chen and Rio 2016 silver medallist said: “You are playing the
(pictured). CTOC also held a reunion for graduates of the sport for yourself. You need to be happy about it. You have
International Sports Affairs Training Course on March 29. to play it very clean and that is very important to me.” The
The activities included a seminar and sport climbing list also includes: Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong
exercise. (China) and Chan Ho-yuen (Hong Kong, China).
Page 05
News in Pictures
SOUTHEAST Asia Regional Anti-
Doping Organisation (SEARADO)
Director General Gobinathan
Nair (left) visited Brunei on Febru-
ary 18 to meet with key stakehold-
ers including Maj Gen Dato
Aminuddin Ihasan Abidin, Ministry
of Culture, Youth and Sports, and
Brunei Darussalam NOC Secre-
tary General Zuraimi Abdul Sani.
TAJIKISTAN National Olympic Committee, in cooperation UZBEKISTAN NOC President Rustam Shaabdurakhmonov
with the Committee for Youth and Sport, held a “Sport for briefed the Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan, Abdu-
All” day in a variety of sports including athletics, chess and jabbor Abdukhokhidov, on the condition and fitness levels
judo on April 28. All winners were awarded diplomas and of the country’s Olympic elite athletes during quarantine
medals by Tajikistan NOC as well as commemorative and explained the activities and exercises they were under-
gifts. The aim of the event was to attract more youngsters taking to maintain their fitness.
to sport and unearth new talent. (Photo: Tajikistan NOC)
ASIA Rugby General Manager Ross
Mitchell retired from his post at the end
of March. He was involved with rugby
in Asia for over 45 years and was a
popular figure on the Asian Games
circuit. In 2007, Ross was elected by
the Asia Rugby (ARFU at the time)
Council as Honorary Secretary
General for four years. In 2013, Asia
Rugby appointed him as General
Manager.
Page 06
News in Pictures
THE Athletes 365 Career+
Outreach Workshop organ-
ised by the Athletes Commis-
sion of the Qatar Olympic
Committee took place at the
Qatar Olympic Academy on
February 24. The two-day
workshop brought together 15
Team Qatar athletes who had
represented the country in
previous Olympic Games and
Paralympic Games.
IRAN is forming a women’s para powerlifting national KAZAKHSTAN National Olympic Committee elected a
team to take part in international competitions, the Tehran new Executive Committee at the General Assembly on
Times reports. Last year, the Iran Weightlifting Federation February 26. The meeting was attended by NOC President
sent female lifters to the Asian Championships and to the Timur Kulibayev and Deputy Prime Minister Yeraly Tugzha-
International Weightlifting Federation World Champion- nov as well as presidents and representatives of national
ships for the first time. (Photo: Tehran Times) sports federations.
SRI Lanka NOC made special
arrangements for six female
athletes to take their GCE O
Level examinations even as they
competed at the 13th South
Asian Games in Nepal last
December. All six won medals
for their country and passed their
exams with flying colours!
Page 07
IOC Women and Sport Awards 2020
SKATEISTAN WINS IOC’S WOMEN AND SPORT WORLD TROPHY
O ne of the biggest contributors to the success of the OCA
Skateboarding Youth Camp in Nanjing, China last summer was
the team from Afghanistan.
With one female and one male athlete, supported by an enthusi-
astic and talented coach, the delegation was a credit to Afghani-
stan, the OCA and the sport of skateboarding.
The athletes and coach came from a group known as Skateistan
– a non-profit organisation based in Afghanistan and with
branches in Cambodia and South Africa.
The organisation uses skateboarding to create safe environ-
ments where girls can overcome barriers and gain access to
sport and education.
Skateistan students have a creative, arts-based education.
(Photo: Skateistan.org)
Earlier this year, the documentary Learning to Skateboard in a
Warzone (If You're a Girl), which follows the progress of a group
of girls at Skateistan in Kabul, was awarded the BAFTA for Best Commenting on the announcement, IOC President Thomas
British Short Film (Documentary) and an Oscar for Best Docu- Bach said: “Congratulations to the six winners of this year’s
mentary (Short Subject). edition of the IOC Women and Sport Awards. Each project is a
lifelong commitment to advancing gender equality on and off
Thanks to this remarkable success and noble aims, Skateistan the field of play. Each winner demonstrates the power of sport to
was named winner of the World Trophy of the annual IOC make gender equality a reality.”
Women and Sport Awards, for 2020. There were also five
awards for the continents, including Asia. The six winners will receive their awards at a later date.
Founded:
2008
In:
Kabul, Afghanistan
HQ:
Berlin, Germany
Project reach:
2,500 children
Ages:
From 5 to 17
In:
Afghanistan, Cambodia,
South Africa.
The Afghanistan delegation at the OCA skateboarding youth camp in Nanjing, China in 2019.
Coach/manager Noorzai Ibrahimi (centre) works for Skateistan in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan.
Page 08
IOC Women and Sport Awards 2020/Forbes List
OLYMPIC ARCHER KIM EARNS IOC AWARD FOR ASIA
K orea’s first archery world champion, Kim Jin-ho, has been
named IOC Women and Sport Award winner for Asia in 2020.
Kim won the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
and also competed in three Asian Games, climbing the podium
nine times.
Kim, who won the world championship for the first time in 1979
and again in 1983, was selected for her successful efforts to Since the end of her international career, the 58-year-old Kim
increase female representation within national sport governing has become a professor at the Korean National Sport University.
bodies. She is also a board member of the Korean Archery Association
and was previously a director of the Women’s Sport Association
She was also recognised for her pioneering work with Myeong- of Korea from 1990 to 1998.
goong Council - an organisation she founded and which
provides free archery lessons and scholarships to children, The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee presented her with
particularly girls. the Korea Sports Hero award in 2018.
Kim Jin-ho (Photo: World Archery)
ASIAN GAMES CHAMP DIDAL JOINS FORBES LIST
A sian Games skateboarding champion Margielyn Didal of
the Philippines has been included in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” for
gold in the men’s floor exercise at the FIG World Artistic Gymnas-
tics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany in 2019 and has
Asia in 2020. qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: AFP)
“Magic Margie” won the street discipline of skateboarding at
Jakabaring Sports City in Palembang, Indonesia in 2018 and is
on course to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, where the daredevil
sport will make its Olympic debut next year.
Forbes were so impressed with the impact she has made in the
Philippines, Asia and beyond that they named her in the list of 30
most influential change-makers aged under 30 in the Sport and
Entertainment category for Asia.
At the age of 21, the Red Bull-sponsored Didal has plenty of
years ahead of her in the sport and has allowed other youngsters
to dream of what can be achieved with determination, devotion
and hard work.
The list of 30 also includes her compatriot Carlos Yulo, who won Asian Games 2018 skateboarding champion Margielyn Didal.
Page 09
Inside the OCA
DOHA AND RIYADH BID TO HOST 21ST ASIAN GAMES IN 2030
“This proves once
again the trust and ASIAN GAMES
confidence in the OCA HOST CITIES
from our National
Olympic Committees 1951:
to stage world-class New Delhi, India
multi-sport events on a
major scale,” said 1954:
Sheikh Ahmad. Manila, Philippines
1958:
“The fact that we have Tokyo, Japan
already signed Host
City Contracts with 1962:
Hangzhou, China for Jakarta, Indonesia
the 19th Asian Games 1966:
Doha, which hosted the 15th Asian Games in 2006, boasts a scenic Corniche. in 2022 and with Bangkok, Thailand
Aichi-Nagoya in Japan
T for the 20th Asian Games in 2026 1970:
he Olympic Council of Asia received two strong bids to host gives our sports calendar stability Bangkok, Thailand
the 21st edition of its showpiece event, the Asian Games, in 2030. and continuity for the next decade. 1974:
Tehran, Iran
Doha, capital of Qatar, and Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, “We are in an envious position in
submitted official bids before the OCA deadline of April 22, this regard and it shows once again 1978:
2020. The documents included the required letters of support that Asia is a major partner in the Bangkok, Thailand
from the respective governments. global Olympic sports movement.” 1982:
New Delhi, India
The OCA will elect the host city of the 21st Asian Games 2030 Sheikh Ahmad added that the
at the General Assembly on November 29, 2020, on the sequence of Asian Games from 1986:
sidelines of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. 2022 to 2030 – be it Riyadh or Seoul, Korea
Doha – enabled the NOCs and, in 1990:
The President of the OCA, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad particular, the athletes to set targets Beijing, China
Al-Sabah, said he was delighted to receive two strong bids from for the short-term, mid-term and
major capital cities in the Gulf region. long-term. 1994:
Hiroshima, Japan
1998:
Bangkok, Thailand
2002:
Busan, Korea
2006:
Doha, Qatar
2010:
Guangzhou, China
2014:
Incheon, Korea
2018:
Jakarta/Palembang,
Indonesia
2022:
Hangzhou, China
2026:
Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, is bidding to host an OCA games for the first time in history.
Page 10Inside the OCA
OCA THANKS HAGOC FOR MASS MASK DONATION
T he Olympic Council of Asia has
thanked the Hangzhou Asian Games
Organising Committee for the donation of
30,000 medical masks to fight the spread of
COVID-19.
The OCA will distribute the masks to staff at
OCA HQ, the sports community in Kuwait
and to the Ministry of Health for the front-
line medical workers saving lives every day.
“This is a wonderful gesture,” said the OCA
Director General, Husain Al-Musallam.
“It shows the strong bond between the two
organisations and between the people of
China and Kuwait. We will put the masks to
good use around Kuwait and we are sure
they will contribute to saving lives during
The OCA Director General displays the Asian Games slogan.
these difficult times.”
NEW OCA VP: The OCA has appointed
a new Vice President linked to the organ-
isation of the 6th Asian Indoor and
Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Bangkok
and Chonburi province from May 21-30,
2021. Dato Seri Chaiyapak Siriwat is
Vice President of NOC Thailand, Vice
President of the Asian Hockey Federation
and President of the Thailand Hockey
Association. (Photo: AHF)
OCA ADVISORY COMMITTEE HOLDS ONLINE MEETING
T he Olympic Council of Asia conducted an online meeting
of the OCA Advisory Committee on Monday, April 27.
The OCA Director-General,
Husain Al-Musallam, reported
on the latest developments of
The Chairman of the OCA Advisory Committee, IOC the multi-sport games.
Member Ng Ser Miang of Singapore, began the meeting by
providing the background on the decision to postpone the The meeting was attended online by: Ng Ser Miang
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to 2021 due to COVID-19. (Chairman, Singapore), CK Wu (Chinese Taipei), Mikee
Cojuangco-Jaworski (Philippines), Dr Narinder Batra
HRH Prince Faisal Al-Hussein, IOC Member from Jordan (India), HRH Prince Faisal Al-Hussein (Jordan), Li Lingwei
and President of the Jordan Olympic Committee, briefed (China), Zhang Hong (China), Ryu Seung Min (Korea),
the members on the flexible approach of the IOC regarding Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul (Thailand), OCA Director
National Olympic Committee elections due to the General Husain Al-Musallam and Chris Chan, Edmund
postponement of Tokyo 2020. Lim and Antony Lee from Singapore NOC.
Page 11OCA Games Update
Hangzhou 2022
ROBOT TRIPLETS UNVEILED
T hree sporty robots will be
the official mascots of the
The Chairman of the OCA
Coordination Committee, Raja
19th Asian Games in Hang- Randhir Singh, was very
zhou, China in September impressed with the three
2022. mascots.
The mascots were unveiled at “The concept and the design is
a high-tech 20-minute online very modern and forward-
ceremony on Friday, April 3 looking while also representing
which involved a video link traditional Chinese characteris-
between the capital Beijing tics,” said Raja Randhir.
and Hangzhou in Zhejiang
province, eastern China. “I am sure they will be very
popular with people of all ages
The three mascots, known and will help promote the Asian
collectively as the “smart Games and the city of Hang-
triplets”, represent the three zhou.
UNESCO World Heritage
sites of Hangzhou as well as “At the same time, the fact that
the futuristic internet capabili- they signify the three UNESCO
ties of the city and the World Heritage sites of Hang-
province. Congcong Lianlian zhou reflects the long history and
Page 12OCA Games Update
Hangzhou 2022
AS ASIAN GAMES MASCOTS
the culture of the region. They of Liangzhu City dating back 5,000 years. It takes yellow, the
represent the past, the present colour of earth and bumper harvest, as the main tone.
and the future.
Lianlian: Represents the West Lake and the name depicts a
“The OCA would like to lake full of lush lotus leaves. Green stands for life and
congratulate the Hangzhou nature.
Asian Games Organising
Committee for choosing such Chenchen: Represents the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
dynamic and likeable mascots,” It takes its name from the iconic, arched Gongchen Bridge -
added Raja Randhir, whose a landmark structure in the Hangzhou section of the Grand
OCA Coordination Committee Canal. Blue represents science and technology.
works alongside HAGOC in
planning and preparing for the NOTE: The organising
Asian Games. committee received
4,633 submissions for
Introducing the three the mascot designs
mascots: and the robot charac-
ters were the creations
Congcong: The name comes of Zhang Wen and
from the Cong jade pendant – Yang Hongyi, lecturers
the quintessential relic from the China
Chenchen unearthed from the ancient ruins Academy of Art.
Page 13OCA Games Update
Hangzhou 2022
85 PER CENT OF ASIAN GAMES VENUES TO BE FINISHED THIS YEAR
C onstruction of 42 of the 58 competition venues and athlete
villages for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou is scheduled to
A total of 53 competition venues, five Asian Games villages and
31 training venues are needed for the Asian Games in Septem-
be completed by the end of this year, Xinhua News reports. ber 2022.
Forty of them were already under construction in
2019 and work on the remaining competition
venues will begin this year.
"Our target is to complete the construction of 42
competition venues and auxiliary facilities by the
end of this year, which accounts for more than 85
percent of the total construction work," the organ-
ising committee said.
All competition venues are expected to be
completed by March 2021 – giving organisers
plenty of time for fixtures and fittings and for the
all-important test events in the ensuing 18 months.
Hangzhou 2022 held a meeting on April 29 to
discuss the criteria for joining the official hotel
programme for the 19th Asian Games. Organis-
ers are looking to sign up 70 hotels to provide
services for the OCA, technical officials, athletes
The design of the Big Lotus – main stadium for the 19th Asian Games.
and media.
Page 14OCA Games Update
SANYA 2020
ASIAN BEACH GAMES ORGANISERS DESIGNATE SPORTS VENUES
SPORTS PROGRAMME
17 sports
19 disciplines
93 events
1: Aquathlon (3 events)
2: Aquatics:
Open Water (4)
Water Polo (2)
An aerial view of the beach at Sanya Bay. (Photo: Wei Wu/Hainan Daily) 3: Beach Athletics (12)
T he organising committee of the 6th Asian
Beach Games in Sanya, Hainan province of China,
A Torch Relay Working
Conference was held in Haikou
4: Powerboat (8)
5: Dragon Boat (9)
has finalised the competition venues for the sand and attended by three key depart-
and sea sports festival. ments of Hainan Province - the
6: Basketball 3x3 (2)
Department of Tourism, Culture,
SABGOC has created four venue clusters to host Radio, Television and Sport, the
the 17 sports, 19 disciplines and 93 events of the Department of Finance and the 7: Sport Climbing (4)
6th ABG, which will run from November 28 to Public Security Department - as
December 6, 2020. well as representatives of the 12 8: Beach Handball (2)
coastal cities and counties in
The four venue clusters, with sports, are: Haikou, Sanya, Qionghai and 9: Beach Soccer (2)
Wanning.
Tianya (9 sports/10 disciplines): Beach Volleyball, 10: Beach Volleyball (2)
Beach Handball, Powerboat, Beach Woodball, The OCA is hoping to
Aquathlon, Sailing, Sport Climbing, Aquatics (open hold the ABG Chefs de Mission 11: Woodball (8)
water swimming and water polo) and Dragon Boat. Seminar in Sanya, Hainan
Island, on July 20. If this is not
12: Martial Arts:
Jiyang (5 sports/6 disciplines): Basketball 3x3, possible, a remote CDM
Beach Soccer, Beach Kabaddi, Teqball and Martial Seminar will be conducted
Arts (Beach Wrestling and Jujisu). online. Beach Wrestling (7)
Haitang (2 sports): Beach Athletics and Surfing. Sanya 2020 revealed Jujitsu (4)
the 19 sports pictograms and
Yazhou (1 sport): Powered Paragliding. official posters on May 8. 13: Beach Kabaddi (2)
14: Surfing (6)
15: Sailing (10)
16: Teqball (3)
17: Powered Paragliding (3)
Page 15OCA Games Update
OCA CONFIRMS DATES, SPORTS FOR 6TH AIMAG 2021
T he OCA signed a host city contract with
NOC Thailand on April 23 for Bangkok and
Chonburi province to host the 6th Asian Indoor
and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) next year.
It was a virtual signing ceremony conducted
online between the Sports Authority of Thailand
HQ in Bangkok and the OCA HQ in Kuwait.
The two main signatories were the OCA
President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad
Al-Sabah, and the President of NOC Thailand,
Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon.
The dates have been confirmed as May 21 – 30, The online signing ceremony of the host city contract for the 6th AIMAG.
2021.
3rd AYG Shantou 2021
The 28 medal sports are: Indoor Athletics, Cue Sports,
Bowling, Dance Sport, Chess, Futsal (men and women), Roller The OCA has announced the sports programme for the 3rd
Sports/Sport Climbing, Short Course Swimming (25m), Muay, Asian Youth Games in Shantou, Guangdong province, from
Jujitsu, BMX Cycling, Hoop Takraw/Sepak Takraw, Kurash, November 20-28, 2021.
Floorball, Netball, Taekwondo, Indoor Hockey, Karate,
E-Sports, Badminton, Pencak Silat, Cheer Leading, Sambo, The 18 sports for AYG 3 are: 1, Athletics; 2, Aquatics
Indoor Rowing, Indoor Volleyball (men and women), Basketball (Swimming, Diving and Water Polo); 3, Badminton; 4, Basket-
3x3 (men and women), Traditional Wrestling, Kickboxing. ball (3x3); 5, Beach Volleyball; 6, Dragon Boat Racing; 7,
Football; 8, Gymnastics; 9, Golf; 10, Handball; 11, Hip Hop
The two demonstration sports are: Teqball, Air Sport (Indoor Dance; 12, Sport Climbing; 13, Rugby Sevens; 14, Surfing; 15,
Drone). Table Tennis; 16, Taekwondo; 17, Wind Surfing; 18, Wushu.
AICHI-NAGOYA 2026 UNVEIL EMBLEM FOR 20TH ASIAN GAMES
T he Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee
(AINAGOC) revealed the official emblem for the 20th Asian
AINAGOC said the smooth curves represented the athleticism of
sport; purple represents the iris – prefectural flower of Aichi; gold
Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on March 23. describes the “kinshachi” - the golden tiger-headed dolphins on
the roof of Nagoya Castle; and green signifies the environment.
AINAGOC asked the public for emblem designs in the autumn The emblem also contains the letter A for Asia and Aichi and the
of 2019 and received 884 proposals from all over Japan. N for Nagoya.
The design created by Hiroshi Miyashita - Associate Professor of
the Department of Design, Faculty of Architecture and Design,
Aichi Sangyo University - was examined thoroughly by the
emblem selection panel and finalised at the AINAGOC Execu-
tive Board meeting held on the same day of its release.
Hideaki Ohmura, President of AINAGOC and Governor of Aichi
prefecture, Takashi Kawamura, Deputy President of AINAGOC
and Mayor of Nagoya, and Tsuyoshi Fukui, Vice President of
AINAGOC and Secretary General of the Japanese Olympic
Committee, attended the EB meeting and emblem launch.
Double Olympic judo champion and Busan Asian Games 2002
gold medal-winner Ayumi Tanimoto from Aichi prefecture was
also in attendance. The emblem for the 20th Asian Games is unveiled.
Page 16Asia/Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament
JORDAN STEPS IN TO HOST WORLD-CLASS BOXING
QUALIFIER FOR TOKYO 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES
Jordan’s hosting of the Asia/Oceania boxing qualifying tourna-
ment for the Tokyo Olympics was a success from start to finish.
“This tournament proved the great capability of Jordan in
hosting major sports events and this was due to a combination
of youth and experience, enthusiasm and teamwork. I would
Stepping in at short notice after the original host city, Wuhan in also like to praise the role of the large number of volunteers. It
China, was unable to organise the event on the intended dates created a beautiful image of our country.”
of February 3-14, Jordan put on a top-class spectacle in the
capital Amman from March 3-11. Majali was proud of the support the organising committee
received, from corporate sponsors to the spectators in the
A total of 221 boxers from 35 countries and regions in Asia and stands of the impressive Prince Hamzeh Hall who cheered five
Oceania competed in 13 categories – eight for men and five for local boxers all the way to Tokyo.
women. There were a total of 63 places available at the Tokyo
Olympics through this qualifier and the fact that host country “The success of this tournament proved that, with collaboration
Jordan claimed five of them added to the excitement. and cooperation from all parties, any event can be held at the
highest level of professionalism,” he added, in reference to the
The Secretary General of the Jordan Olympic Committee, tight 45-day timeline from being appointed host city to the
Nasser Majali, said: “We would like to thank everyone who opening day of competition.
contributed to the successful hosting of this huge event that
created wonderful moments and memories for sport in Jordan.
63 HEROES
The 63 qualifying
places were filled by:
9: Kazakhstan and India
7: Uzbekistan
6: China
5: Jordan and Australia
4: Chinese Taipei and
Thailand
3: Japan
2: South Korea, Philippines,
Iran and Tajikistan
1: New Zealand, Mongolia
and Vietnam
SEE ALSO
Pages 18 and 19:
Photo Gallery.
Page 20:
HRH Prince Faisal Al-Hussein, President of the Jordan Olympic Committee,
The 63 boxers who qualified
attends the victory ceremony of Jordan’s Zeyad Ishaish, who won gold in the
welterweight (69kg) division. for Tokyo.
Page 17Asia/Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament
Feeling champion: That's China's Chang Yuan after defeating Tsukimi Namiki of Japan in the women's flyweight final.
The Philippines' Eumir Marcial (right) gets the better of Kazakh- Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting (left) defeats Sena Irie of
stan's Abilkhan Amankul in the men's middleweight final. Japan in the women’s featherweight final.
Zakir Safiullin (Kazakhstan) and Elnur Abduraimov (Uzbekistan) are locked in a Central Asia battle.
Page 18Asia/Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament
A victory salute from Uzbekistan’s Tursunoy Rakhimova
India’s Simranjit Kaur Baatth battles Korea’s Oh Yeon-ji. after winning a box-off.
Mongolia’s Byamba-Erdene Otgonbaatar takes on Seyedshahin Mousavi of Iran.
Thailand’s Chatchai-Decha Butdee fights Korea’s Ham Sang-myeong.
Page 19Asia/Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament
OCA CONGRATULATES 63 TOKYO-BOUND BOXERS
FROM ASIA/OCEANIA OQT
MEN Heavyweight (91 kg) – 4
Vassiliy Levit
David Nyika
(KAZ)
(NZL)
Flyweight (52 kg) – 6 Hussein Ishaish (JOR)
Hu Jianguan (CHN) Sanjar Tursunov (UZB)
Thitisan Panmot (THA)
Amit Panghal (IND) Super heavyweight (+91 kg) – 4
Shakhobidin Zoirov (UZB) Bakhodir Jalolov (UZB)
Alex Winwood (AUS) Justis Huni (AUS)
Saken Bibossinov (KAZ) Satish Kumar (IND)
Kamshybek Kunkabayev (KAZ)
Featherweight (57 kg) – 6
Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov (UZB)
Mohammad Al-Wadi
Serik Temirzhanov
Nguyen Van Duong
(JOR)
(KAZ)
(VIE)
WOMEN
Danial Shahbakhsh (IRI) Flyweight (51 kg) – 6
Chatchai Butdee (THA) Chang Yuan (CHN)
Tsukimi Namiki (JPN)
Lightweight (63 kg) – 6 Mary Kom (IND)
Elnur Abduraimov (UZB) Huang Hsiao-wen (TPE)
Zakir Safiullin (KAZ) Irish Magno (PHI)
Baatarsükhiin Chinzorig (MGL) Tursunoy Rakhimova (UZB)
Obada Al-Kasbeh (JOR)
Manish Kaushik (IND) Featherweight (57 kg) – 4
Bakhodur Usmonov (TJK) Lin Yu-ting (TPE)
Sena Irie (JPN)
Welterweight (69 kg) – 5 Skye Nicolson (AUS)
Zeyad Ishaish (JOR) Im Ae-ji (KOR)
Vikas Krishan Yadav (IND)
Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) Lightweight (60 kg) – 4
Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) Oh Yeon-ji (KOR)
Sewon Okazawa (JPN) Simranjit Kaur (IND)
Sudaporn Seesondee (THA)
Middleweight (75 kg) – 5 Wu Shih-yi (TPE)
Eumir Marcial (PHI)
Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) Welterweight (69 kg) – 4
Ashish Kumar (IND) Gu Hong (CHN)
Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan (CHN) Chen Nien-chin (TPE)
Shahin Mousavi (IRI) Lovlina Borgohain (IND)
Baison Manikon (THA)
Light heavyweight (81 kg) – 5
Bekzad Nurdauletov (KAZ) Middleweight (75 kg) – 4
Paulo Aokuso (AUS) Li Qian (CHN)
Odai Al-Hindawi (JOR) Caitlin Parker (AUS)
Chen Daxiang (CHN) Pooja Rani (IND)
Shabbos Negmatulloev (TJK) Nadezhda Ryabets (KAZ)
Page 20Road to Tokyo
SYRIA’S HEND ZAZA QUALIFIES FOR TOKYO – AT 11 YEARS OLD!
S yrian table tennis player Hend Zaza made headlines around
the world when she qualified for Tokyo 2020 at the tender age
At seven, Zaza joined her brother when he attended the West
Asia Hopes Week and Challenge in Qatar in 2016 and her
of 11. talent was recognised immediately.
The ping-pong prodigy won the Olympic qualification tourna- Today at home in Hama, Zaza practises six days a week for
ment for West Asia held in Amman, Jordan on February 26 to three hours a day. Conditions are far from perfect in a hall with
become the youngest table tennis player in history to qualify for four relatively old tables, a concrete floor and frequent power
an Olympic Games. outages that make training dependent on sunlight.
“It’s a gift to my country Syria, my parents and all my friends,” The Olympic Games must wait another year to see this table
she said, after beating Mariana Sahakian of Lebanon, 31 years tennis talent in Tokyo – but it will be well worth the wait.
her senior, in the final.
Born in 2009 in Hama, Zaza started playing table tennis in
2014. Her home city was heavily affected by terrorism and war,
and table tennis offered respite from daily hardships for Zaza
and her brothers.
Hend Zaza cries tears of joy after qualifying for Tokyo. Hend Zaza celebrates her Olympic Games qualification along-
(Photo: Jordan Olympic Committee) side Princess Zeina Rashid of Jordan (Photo: Jordan NOC)
SAUDI Arabia’s Ali
Alkhadrawi won the
men’s qualifier in Amman
to book his ticket to
Tokyo.
The 22-year-old
left-hander defeated
Lebanon’s Dauud Cheiab
4-1 (11-7, 12-10, 6-11,
11-4, 11-8) in the final.
(Photo: Deepak
Malik/SPORTZPICS).
Page 21Olympic Movement in Asia – working together
OCA PROUD OF ASIAN ATHLETES AT TIME OF CRISIS
T he Director General of the OCA, Husain Al-Musallam, has
spoken of his pride regarding the reaction of Asia’s athletes to
Mr. Al-Musallam also praised the selfless efforts of athletes to
raise money for the needy due to the problems caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic and enforced community lockdowns. lockdown in many countries.
“I would like to congratulate our National Olympic Committees “It has been very moving to see athletes raising money for
and our athletes for the way they have rallied round and shown a people less fortunate than themselves. This has involved
true Olympic spirit in these difficult times,” said Mr. Al-Musallam. athletes giving up prize money or their own monthly allow-
ances to buy food packages for the needy or contributing to a
“I have seen many examples of NOCs launching their own central fund.
social media campaigns to highlight their athletes in training at
home, sharing their experiences and encouraging members of “It is heartwarming to see how our athletes and the Olympic
the public to join them in their exercise routines and activities. movement have embraced this challenge and it makes me very
proud. I would like to thank them and congratulate them for
“This has created a special bond between the athletes and the their initiatives, creativity and big hearts.”
public and has raised spirits around Asia.”
SINGAPORE’S Rio 2016 PALESTINE Olympic Committee announced
Olympic gold medallist a virtual taekwondo championship organ-
Joseph Schooling took to ised by World Taekwondo and Palestine
social media to urge people
Taekwondo. Held from May 15-20, the
to stay at home and avoid
competition was in five age categories and
the spread of COVID-19.
required athletes to produce a 10-second
The 24-year-old 100m action video of their best combination
butterfly champion posted in moves, to be assessed by six international
his Facebook account: “Stay judges. The five categories were kids, cadet,
Home and stay safe every- junior, senior and masters.
one. By working together
and being socially respon-
sible, we can beat this virus.”
BAHRAIN Olympic Committee
asked gold medal-winners to add
a hashtag to their photo saying
“Protect yourself to bring back the
golden era” in a campaign aimed
at alerting athletes, sports fans
and the public to stay safe during
the pandemic and to dream of
future success. (Photo: BOC)
Page 22Olympic Movement in Asia – working together
BANGLADESH national football team defender Topu
Barman (right) is bearing the cost of two weeks’ food for
the families of 19 female footballers at the Narayanganj
Promila Football Academy in Dhaka due to the loss of
income in the pandemic. (Photo: © Dhaka Tribune)
ASIAN Games 2018 weightlifting
champion Hidilyn Diaz raised over
150,000 Peso (USD 3,000) from
donations by holding an online FOLLOWING on from the successful SEA Games motto
weightlifting clinic and seminar. The “We Win As One” last year, the Philippines established a
donations enabled her to provide series of “We Heal As One” medical centres to accommo-
relief food packages for 400 families date COVID-19 patients and reduce the spread of the
in her hometown of Zamboanga City virus. One such venue was the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in
and other areas of the Philippines. the famous Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. (Photo: PIA)
NEPALESE athletes from a wide variety of sports, including MONGOLIAN Boxing Federation President Dashdem-
Olympians and 13th South Asian Games champions, berel Bat-Erdene has been supporting teachers, athletes,
extended a helping hand to feed the poor affected by the coaches and colleagues, despite being in self-quarantine
nationwide lockdown. The donations included sacks of in Ulaanbaatar. The boxing federation is part of a charity
rice, salt, cooking oil, sugar, tea, noodles, snacks and programme and has distributed protective garments, face
shoes. (Photo: The Himalayan Times). masks and other important equipment. (ASBC)
Page 23Olympic Movement in Asia – working together
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, President of the
Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, held a virtual meet-
ing with presidents of the national sports federations to
discuss the challenges during the COVID-19 crisis. HRH
Prince Abdulaziz said the SAOC planned to inaugurate an
electronic platform to provide a unified system of commu-
nication with all stakeholders and create a new-normal
working environment.
UNDER the direc- TEAM Kazakhstan athletes
tion of Dr. Nasser recorded a moving video
Nassiri, President of message to honour the front-
the World Associa- line workers, describing medi-
tion of Kickboxing cal staff as the real heroes and
Organisations the true champions of the
(WAKO) Iran and world as they put their own
the Asian Kickbox- lives on the line to save
ing Confederation, patients: #TeamKZwithYOU.
WAKO Iran held an
online kickboxing
competition. The UZBEKISTAN Olympic Commit-
Corona Fighting tee President Rustam Shaabdu-
Cup was contested rakhmonov thanked the IOC,
from home in four ANOC and OCA for their
musical forms (soft “encouragement and support”
style and hard style of NOCs during the pandemic
with weapons and and highlighted the projects
without weapons) at being undertaken by Uzbek
cadet, youth and athletes. These include lockdown
adult levels. Over training programmes and virtual
100 kickboxing relays and challenges to main-
enthusiasts from 12 tain a competitive spirit. (Photo:
provinces took part. www.olympic.uz)
IRANIAN weightlifter Poopak Bastami has made headlines
around the world by forsaking her training to take her
place on the front line in the fight against COVID-19.
Iran’s first female weightlifter at the Asian Women’s Cham-
pionship - in China in 2019 - has worked as a nurse for
seven years and took up weightlifting during her spare
time as a student. Source: ifpnews.com
JAPANESE athletes from summer and winter sports
displayed true team spirit in responding to a call by the
Japanese Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission to
support local society. The three key messages from the
athletes to the public were: Stay healthy, stay home and
admiration and gratitude for the front-line workers.
Page 24Olympic Movement in Asia – working together
TOKYO-bound Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain gave
financial assistance to Assam Arogya Nidhi, an Indian
Government initiative for those with life-threatening
diseases. The charity helps people cover expenses for
diagnosis, treatment and medicine. Borgohain, 22, also
arranged for 250 packets of fruit, vegetables and other
food to be sent to people in her home region in Barpathar.
CHINESE Taipei Olympic Committee supported the
IOC’s Stay Strong social media campaign by inviting
athletes to frame a Facebook picture with a message of
support “(ting jhu)” to overcome the challenges facing the
world. Here is four-time Olympic shooter Lin Yi-Chun.
INDIAN track star Hima Das saluted the “real heroes OCA Culture Committee Chair Khunying Patama
risking their lives for our safety” by posting a message of Leeswadtrakul, in her role as Chairperson and Executive
support and gratitude under the hashtag “India Fights Producer of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, showed
Corona” on her Facebook page. She also contributed one her support for the front-line COVID-19 fighters by organis-
month’s salary to the Assam Government to safeguard the ing an online musical performance of the well-loved Thai
health of the people. song “Samakkhi Chumnum” to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.
Page 25Women in Sport
AIPS ASIA LAUNCHES WOMEN IN SPORT MAGAZINE
T he Asia branch of the International Sports Press Association
(AIPS) has launched a new magazine to promote and honour
the women in sport in Asia.
Entitled “Women in Sports”, the publication is a joint initiative of
AIPS Asia and the Chinese Taipei Sports Journalist Federation.
The magazine not only highlights prominent women in sport
around the continent, from athletes to administrators to leaders,
it also focuses on the media work of female journalists and
photographers within the sports industry in Asia.
The President of AIPS Asia, Sattam Alsehali, introduces the new
The OCA column in the new magazine.
magazine and explains the reasons for its publication.
As well as reports and photos from around the region, including Packed with interesting articles and top-quality photos, accompa-
Iran, Pakistan, Japan, India, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia, there nied by pride, passion and enthusiasm throughout, Women in
is also a column by the Olympic Council of Asia focusing on the Sports will further empower the women’s sports movement in
efforts being made by the OCA to raise the profile of women’s Asia and beyond.
sport on and off the field of play.
FIRST WOMEN’S PRO GOLF EVENT IN SAUDI ARABIA MOVED TO OCTOBER
T he inaugural Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented
by Public Investment Fund, the first female professional golf
The October tournament will be a watershed moment for the
Kingdom and will mark the first time that professional female
tournament to be played in Saudi Arabia, has been rearranged golfers have played there competitively, breaking new ground in
for October 8-11. The original dates were in March. Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation as part of Vision 2030.
(Photo: Ladies European Tour)
A new date for the USD 1 million tournament at Royal Greens
Golf & Country Club in Al Murooj, King Abdullah Economic
City, was agreed by Golf Saudi and the Ladies European Tour.
His Excellency Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of the Saudi
Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said: “We will, of course,
continue to work closely with health authorities both domesti-
cally and across the region in the interim but are hopeful that we
will be able to bring this momentous occasion to Saudi Arabia
in six months’ time.”
KAZAKHSTAN’S Yulia Galysheva has been signed on as a
Red Bull athlete. The 27-year-old freestyle skier won a
bronze medal in moguls at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter
Olympics and was world champion in 2019. “I am very
proud to be invited to join this prestigious programme,”
she said. (Photo: @Kazakhstan NOC)
Women's professional golf is coming to Saudi Arabia.
Page 26Women in Sport
OLYMPIAN HO APPOINTED FISA CONTINENTAL REP FOR ASIA
T he World Rowing Federation (FISA) has appointed Fay Ho Kim-fai as FISA continen-
tal representative for Asia.
In a news release, the Hong Kong, China Rowing Association said Ho had succeeded
China’s Liu Aijie, who stepped down from the role last December.
Continental reps represent FISA in their respective continents and are full members of the
FISA Council.
Fay represented Hong Kong at the Olympic Games in both canoeing and rowing and was
elected as the first female Vice President of the Asian Rowing Federation (ARF) in 2018.
This new appointment will lead to closer cooperation between FISA and the ARF and
further demonstrates the standing of Hong Kong rowing in the world. (Photo: Hong
Fay Ho Kim-fai. Kong, China Rowing Association)
OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS RECEIVE CHINA’S YOUTH AWARD
C hina's women's volleyball team spiker Zhu Ting was among
60 people to receive China's Youth Award on April 28 ahead of
skating champion Zhang Hong. Aged 32, Zhang is also one of
the youngest members of the International Olympic Committee.
China's Youth Day on May 4.
The award, jointly presented by the All-China Youth Federation
Another awardee from sport was China’s first-ever Olympic speed and Chinese Communist Youth League, is the highest honour for
youths from all walks of life and all corners of the country.
China's captain said she received the award on behalf of the team,
claiming the award was also a major encouragement to her.
"Our coach Lang Ping always reminds me that we are a team;
everyone cannot make progress without the cultivation of the
group, no matter who she is," Zhu told Xinhua News.
The 1.95-metre Zhu, 25, led China to a third Olympic gold at
Rio 2016.
Monday, May 4 marked the 101st anniversary of the May 4
Movement, a patriotic campaign that started from universities
and was launched in 1919 by young Chinese to fight imperial-
Zhu Ting attacks the Dutch wall of defenders during the ism and feudalism. May 4 was later established as Youth Day in
women’s volleyball semi-final at Rio 2016. (Photo: VCG) 1949 by the Chinese government.
MALAYSIA'S three-time Olympic diver and
two-time Olympic medallist Pandelela
Rinong provides a fascinating – and amus-
ing – insight into her life and career on a
special Olympic Channel Podcast. Listen
to her story on: Olympic Channel Podcast:
Pandelela - the famous Malaysian diver in
isolation - Olympic News.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Page 27News in Brief
New
date
IOC counts the cost s for
Toky
Follow o 202
ing th 0
The International Olympic Committee anticipates that 24, th e
e IOC postponem
the O
it will have to bear costs of up to USD 800 million lympic announce ent of Toky
and P d o
due to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, the aralym new dates 2020 on M
Olym p on M
IOC Executive Board announced on May 14. pic G ic Ga
mes. arch arch
ames T hey a 30 fo
: July re: r
Paraly 23 to
This figure is made of USD 650 million for the organ- mpic A u gust 8
isation of the Games in 2021 and an aid package of Game , 202
s: Aug 1.
USD 150 million for the Olympic Movement, includ- ust 24
to Sep
ing the International Federations, National Olympic tembe
r 5, 2
Committees and IOC-recognised organisations. 021.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic
Movement is facing an unprecedented challenge. We
shall all need to make sacrifices and compromises.
Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary
en
measures.”
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Page 28News in Brief
Rio 2
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ANOC GA Seoul 2020 postponed p Ton
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This year’s ANOC General Assembly es b 16 O
Ahma admin lympic
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d
ay 18 r e tireme To ntow
been postponed to 2021 on dates to . n i
“This t from
be determined, ANOC announced is the the
I’ve d time t
on May 18. ev os
made oted over ay goodby
my lif ha e
said. e mo lf my life t to somethi
The two-day event was part of the centenary celebrations re co o and ng
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The ANOC Executive Council has voted to postpone the ratefu f wha t ever um
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retired p en ve
in order to alleviate pressure on the NOCs. in 201 artner in R in this posi d and
9. i o, Lil t io
iyana n.”
Natsir,
ANOC had intended on hosting the second edition of the
ANOC World Beach Games in 2021 following the great
success of the inaugural event in Qatar last October.
With NOCs busy preparing for the Tokyo Olympic
Games in 2021 and the Olympic Winter Games in
Beijing in 2022, ANOC decided to delay their own 22 ips in
showpiece event to 2023. u l e in 20 m p ionsh - will
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A total in this
tici pat ion of NO Cs in the Olympic Games, taking the
par
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Page 29Obituary
OCA PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORMER VP SHEIKH ISA
T he President of the OCA, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad
Al-Sabah, expressed his deepest condolences to the Royal
Family in Bahrain and to the Bahrain Olympic Committee on the
passing of Sheikh Isa bin Rashid Al-Khalifa. He was 81 years old.
Sheikh Ahmad said he had worked with Sheikh Isa for several
years and that he would miss his wisdom and knowledge of sport.
Sheikh Isa was associated with the OCA for almost two decades
and was Vice President (West Asia) of the OCA for over 10 years.
“Sheikh Isa made a major contribution to the sports movement
over a number of years, not only in Bahrain and the Gulf region
but also in Asia and the world,” said Sheikh Ahmad.
“He was an important and respected member of the OCA and
served the interests of the NOCs in West Asia with great commit-
Sheikh Isa was Honorary President of the BOC.
ment and leadership.”
HONG KONG SPORTS ICON A. DE O. SALES
T he Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong,
China reported the passing of Honorary Life President Arnaldo de
after the handover of sovereignty from Britain to China in 1997.
Oliveira “Sonny” Sales on March 6. He was 100 years old.
As a founding member of the Federation, Mr. Sales devoted
over half a century to the Olympic movement in Hong Kong
as Honorary Secretary General, Chairman, President and
Honorary Life President.
“Under his presidency from 1967 to 1998, Hong Kong athletes
gradually gained recognition in many international multi-sports
Games such as the Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games
and Asian Games,” the Federation said in a statement.
The Federation added that the efforts and vision of Mr. Sales
had helped preserve the sporting identity of Hong Kong, China A. de O. “Sonny” Sales. (Photo: South China Morning Post)
LAOS NOC VICE PRESIDENT
A former Vice President and Secre-
tary General of NOC Laos, Mr.
1995, Vice President from 2005 to 2009 and Vice President
and Secretary General from 2009 to 2012. He was Chef de
Souvannarath Saignavong, died on Mission for the Lao delegation at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
May 7. He was 87.
He was also an honorary life member of the South East Asian
Regarded as a dedicated sports Games Federation and Secretary General of the 25th SEA
leader, Mr. Saignavong was Secretary Games Vientiane 2009 Organising Committee from 2007
General of NOC Laos from 1980 to to 2009.
Page 30Obituary
ANNABEL PENNEFATHER – SINGAPORE SPORTS ICON
T he Olympic movement in Singapore was devastated by the
loss of sports icon and lawyer Annabel Pennefather on April 27.
Annabel served as Chef de Mission at the 2004 Olympics, the
Commonwealth Games in 2002 and 2010, the 2006 Asian
She was 72. Games and the 2013 SEA Games.
Ms Pennefather was a former Vice President of the Singapore
National Olympic Council, President of the Singapore Hockey
Federation from 2004 to 2012 and a consultant in sports law.
A national hockey player for 15 years, she became the first
woman to be elected Vice President of Singapore NOC in 2002,
a position she held until she stepped down in 2018.
Singapore NOC President Tan Chuan-Jin said: “Annabel was
one of the pioneer women sports administrators in Singapore
and was very passionate in championing the Olympic movement
and women in sports. Her contribution was not limited to Singa-
pore. We are grateful for all that she has poured in, and will miss
Annabel Pennefather.
her greatly.”
BOB HASAN: INDONESIAN ATHLETICS PATRON
L ong-serving athletics patron, business tycoon and former
government minister Mohamad “Bob” Hasan died in Jakarta
edge, professionalism and passion earned him recognition not
only in Indonesia but also in Asia and the international scene.”
on March 31. He was 89.
He was a former Vice President of the OCA, fourth President
of the Asian Athletics Association from 1991 to 2000 and
IAAF Council Member from 1995 to 1999.
The President of the Asian Athletics Association, Dahlan
Alhamad, said: “Being the Indonesian Athletics Federation
(PASI) Chief, Bob Hasan dedicated himself to the world of Track
and Field for more than 40 years. During his term in office he
cared for the underprivileged Federations in terms of expenses.
“Indonesia and the Asian Athletics fraternity will always remember
him for his jovial disposition, kindness and generosity. His knowl-
Bob Hasan. (Photo: © Jakarta Post/Wienda Parwitasari)
SALVADOR ‘BUDDY’ ANDRADA – ASIAN TENNIS
T he Asian Tennis Federa-
tion paid tribute to a former
administrator and had held various distinguished posts in
sports during his time,” the ATF said. “He was a greatly
ATF President, Col. Salvador admired and loved personality.”
“Buddy” Andrada, who died
in the Philippines on April 8. He was also a former President of the Philippine Tennis
Association, former Vice President of the Philippine Olympic
“Col Salvador Andrada was Committee and former Commissioner of the Philippine
an accomplished sports Sports Commission.
Salvador ‘Buddy’ Andrada.
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