Bhubaneswar, Sept 21: Bolangir MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has been elected president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). The election held at the Constitution Club of India resulted in a 36-21 victory over his competitor, VK Dhall.
Singh Deo, the former Lok Sabha MP from Balangir, Odisha, had been serving as the interim NRAI president since the resignation of Raninder Singh. The latter stepped down due to the National Sports Code’s restrictions on the tenure of sports federation heads.
During his interim leadership, Singh Deo played a crucial role in overseeing India’s performance at the Paris Olympics, where the country earned three bronze medals in shooting. He is credited with revitalizing the NRAI and promoting shooting sports nationwide.
In his victory statement, Singh Deo expressed gratitude and emphasized his commitment to advancing the sport of shooting in India, with a focus on providing athletes with the necessary support and training.
This win marks another feather in the cap of Kalikesh Singh Deo, who has been a notable figure in both sports administration and Odisha politics.
