Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma elected as the President of Badminton Association of India

Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected as the President of the Badminton Association of India during the federation’s annual general body meeting and election in Goa today. Dr. Sarma, is Cabinet ranked Minister and convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA, he took over as the interim President of BAI last year after the demise of former President late .Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta and was elected to the hot seat unopposed. He will now serve as the President of the Association for a term of four years.

Former Tamil Nadu Badminton Association president and former Union minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss was elected as the treasurer uncontested. Mr. Ramadoss is currently a sitting Lok Sabha MP from Dharmapuri constituency.

Mr. Ajay Singhania of Haryana Badminton Association beat Mr. KK Sharma of Rajasthan Badminton Association and former secretary of Rajasthan Cricket Association to the post of General Secretary.

Dr. Sarma congratulated all the office-bearers and vowed to do everything in his power to take India to the pinnacle of world badminton. “I would like to congratulate all the elected members and I am sure that everyone will fulfill their responsibilities to the best of their capacity. Indian badminton has been on an all-time high and we as a federation will strive to take it forward and make Indian badminton to the top of the pedestal,” the President said after the election.

“I would also like to bring it to everyone’s notice that I along with the entire office-bearers will will be working in complete transparent manner and will work to make the Association (BAI) the most professional NSF in the country,” Dr. Sarma added.

Retd. Chief Justice of High Courts J&K and Sikkim, Dr. Aftab Hussain Saikia was the returning officer and the electoral process was held under his watchful eyes.

A total of 61 votes were cast by the 31 member affiliates with each state casting two votes except for Telengana which is on a provisional affiliation. Pondicherry Badminton Association was barred from voting as they currently stand as a defunct body.

Haryana Badminton Association President, Mr. Devender Singh, was elected unopposed as the Senior Vice-President. Mr.Omar Rashid, Secretary of Assam Badminton Association was elected as the Secretary (events) unopposed.

A total of 42 posts were up for grabs including the position of President, Senior Vice-President, 12 Vice Presidents, three Secretaries, eight Joint Secretaries and 16 Executive Committee members. All the executive committee members were elected unanimously too.