Qatar's Hamad pips tainted Indian sports administrator by two votes to become sixth Asian Athletic Association president.
Tainted sports administrator Suresh Kalmadi was ousted as president of Asian Athletic Association after he was defeated by Qatar’s Brigadier Dalham al-Hamad by two votes at the the 20th AAA Congress meeting here on Monday.
For the first time all the executive members of the AAA (45) were present for voting. Kalmadi, who has held the office for 13 years, garnered 18 votes while Brig Hamad had 20 in his favour while seven were ruled invalid.
There was pandemonium when it was announced that seven votes were invalid.
The supporters of the respective parties appeared to be raising their concerns about these votes. However, Lamine Diack, the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) president overseeing the proceedings, said that they were ruled invalid in accordance with the AAA constitution.
The MP from Pune, Kalmadi, was first elected to head the AAA in 2000. He won the next two elections, unopposed, in the year 2004 and 2009.
At around 11.45 am on Monday, Hamad walked out of the hall and announced that he has been favoured by the members, bringing the end of the long innings of Kalmadi who was gunning for a fourth term.
Hamad’s term will be for two years, as the (IAAF) is due to meet to elect their new office bearers in the year 2015.
“People have opted for a change and the outcome of the result says it all,” said the newly-elected president Hamad after the elections.
The defeat brings to end, the Congress MP’s long stint as a sports administrator. He was asked to quit as president of the Indian Olympic Association after the being charged with corruption following the Commonwealth Games scandal in 2010.
“Kalmadi did his best and I have no complaints, but it is the people who have opted for the change and I will give my best to give it back to the people of Asia.
I would say that we have to take the baton from Kalmadi and look ahead,”said Hamad of his new venture in sports. “Overall we have to respect the constitution and apply democracy in the voting. There is no way to satisfy everybody.”
Looking ahead, Hamad, who became the sixth AAA president, said that it is important to educate coaches, and in the process the people trusted to help the young athletes and help new generation blossom.
Former secretary of Indian Olympic Association Lalit Bhanot said, “We accept it as a fair election.” Kalmadi did not speak to the media.
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