BAI president elected to BWF Executive Council

Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Akhilesh Das Gupta was Saturday elected to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Executive Council by a record number of votes in the quadrennial elections at Kuala Lumpur.

Das Gupta, a former national player, received the highest number of votes among all the elected members of the council, registering 259 votes out of a maximum of 262.

"It's a matter of great pride and responsibility to represent India in the BWF Executive Council. I'm humbled to receive the overwhelming support of my colleagues in the international fraternity and thank them for giving me this opportunity to serve world badminton," Das Gupta said.

"My election also proves that Indian badminton is now perceived as a strong player by the international community. It will be my endeavour to promote and espouse the cause of world badminton in general and Indian badminton in particular," he added.

Meanwhile, in a change in the power echelon of the BWF, 1996 Olympic men's singles champion, Denmark's Paul-Erik Hoyer Larsen, was elected the new BWF president. The former World No.1 received 145 out of 262 votes in the race for the top post.