The Indian confirmed his decision during a report at today’s Executive Board meeting here, his final one before he officially relinquishes his post at tomorrow’s General Assembly.

Singh, a six-time Olympian and Asian Games gold medallist in shooting who was also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) until last year, took up his position in the same year as Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah assumed the Presidency, with both having worked together ever since.

He will now serve as honorary life vice-president, the Executive Board decided.

“I have had the pleasure of standing in front of you for the last 24 years and presenting the Secretary General’s report every year,” he told delegates from across the continent this morning.

“It has been a long journey but a very fruitful and memorable one.

“I would personally like to thank my friend and colleague for 24 years, His Highness Sheikh Ahmad for his support and, most of all, for his friendship.

“I think together we have been able to give OCA a new direction, and the new state-of-the-art OCA headquarters in Kuwait is a fitting testament to his vision and leadership.”

Nobody will be appointed to replace Singh, insidethegames was told afterwards, with the position to be absorbed within the responsibilities of director general Husain Al-Musallam.

The 69-year-old from the Punjab region originated from a family of sports administrators, with his father Bhalender a member of the IOC from 1947 until 1982.

As a trap shooter he competed at five successive Olympics from Mexico City 1968 until Los Angeles 1984, becoming just the second indian to compete at five Games.

In 1978, he became the first Indian shooter to win Asian Games gold in Bangkok, before taking silver four years later in Delhi.

As an administrator, he served as Indian Olympic Association secretary general from 1987 until 2014, and was an IOC member from 2001 until 2014, where he ceased to be a member as a consequence of stepping-down from his NOC post.

Speaking after Singh in the meeting today, Sheikh Ahmad said it was a “sad day” to end such a longstanding partnership since they started working together in Delhi.

His departure leaves a distinct lack of Indian representatives within the Olympic Movement, with the country currently having no IOC member.

Probably the most influential remaining is N Ramachandran, the IOA head who also leads the World Squash Federation.

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