Newly elected IOA president pledges to improve India's medal tally

After being elected as the president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Thursday, Narinder Batra said that he will ensure that India's medal tally increases in all events.

In a post election conference, Batra said, "My intention is to see that India should improve its medal tally in every event."

"My belief is we should think big. We can host the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in the future, even the Olympics, maybe in 2030," the International Hockey Federation (FIH) chief added.

Batra was elected unopposed as his competent Anil Khanna, former All India Tennis Association (AITA) president, had already withdrawn his candidature for the post, citing that he wants to keep the IOA family united and thus will support Batra for the job.

Asked about sporting relations with Pakistan, Batra said that bilateral events will not be played unless the relations between the two countries improve.

"As far as international multilateral events, organised by the international federations are concerned, we have to play against Pakistan. But I think it is not possible to play them in bilateral events unless the relations between the two countries improve. Moreover, their behaviour will have to improve," he said.

In the IOA elections concluded today, Rajeev Mehta was re-elected secretary general for a four-year term while Anandedhwar Pandey was elected as Treasurer.