Mohali, Dec 4 (NationPress) Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has officially commenced his first complete four-year term as the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) after being elected without opposition during the general body meeting held here on Thursday. The election results for the NRAI office-bearers were formally announced on the same day, conducted under the supervision of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur (Retd), who served as the Returning Officer (RO).

In his initial remarks, Deo expressed, “The field of Indian shooting has entered its most successful era in recent years, both in terms of achievement and popularity, which significantly amplifies our responsibilities. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire General Body for reinstating their confidence in my team and me.

“We assure you that we will spare no effort in further propelling this growth trajectory and in unlocking the immense potential of our exceptionally talented shooting athletes. With the national flag at the forefront of our endeavors, let us unite to elevate India to the pinnacle of our cherished sport.”

Pawan Singh, a highly regarded figure in the realm of shooting administration and technical expertise, has also been elected unopposed. “My priority will be to leverage technology to discover and cultivate promising athletes from every region of India. We aim to train coaches and shooters for coaching roles, ensuring they have a viable career option post-retirement and can continue to earn from the sport they have dedicated their lives to,” Singh remarked.

The elections also established a new Executive Committee and a new Governing Body, which serves as the National Federation's highest decision-making authority.

In the two electoral contests that transpired, Amit Sanghi from Telangana was elected as the Senior Vice President of the Governing Body, while Kanwar Sultan Singh and Sushma Singh were elected as Vice-Presidents within the 15-member Executive Committee (EC).

The four sports personalities in the Executive Committee include Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang, Kunti Malik, Zorawar Singh Sandhu, and Elavenil Valarivan.

Deo's involvement in sports governance began in 2017 when he was elected as the senior vice-president of NRAI. Following Raninder Singh's 12-year presidency, which was curtailed by the organization’s constitution and national sports regulations, Deo took charge of the NRAI's daily operations as the senior-most office-bearer.

On April 6, 2023, he assumed the role of acting president. He was elected president of the NRAI on September 21, 2024, during a general body meeting in New Delhi, defeating challenger V.K. Dhall by a vote of 36-21. Deo, who has been NRAI senior vice president since 2017, began his tenure for a one-year term, set to conclude in 2025.