ISLAMABAD, April 17: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah of Kuwait and Lt Gen Arif Hasan of Pakistan were on Monday elected as president and vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), according to reports available here.

Arif was elected unopposed as vice-president for South Asia by the delegates from 45 countries participating in the OCA General Assembly on Monday during which the members of the Executive Board as well as the heads of committees were elected by acclamation for the first time in the council's history.

Sheikh Al-Sabah expressed his satisfaction on the smooth process of polls while Gen. Arif, in a telephonic message from Kuwait, said that overwhelming warmth and goodwill for Pakistan was reflected in his unopposed election to one of the five posts of regional vice-president.

“The honour that the position carries makes me ever more determined to make a meaningful contribution towards rapidly improving sporting standards in Pakistan,” said the POA president.

The OCA meeting was scheduled to conclude with the selection of the host city for the 17th Summer Asian Games to be held in 2014 for which New Delhi (India) and Incheon (South Korea) are bidding.

The two cities will present their cases to the General Assembly. Both cities have quality infrastructure, sports facilities, human resources and equipment to stage the event.

The OCA General Assembly elected the following on Monday: President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait; Secretary General Raja Randhir Singh India; Vice Presidents Central Asia - Rakhimov Gafur Arslonbek (Uzbekistan), East Asia - Timothy Fok (Hong Kong), South Asia - Lt. Gen. (Retd) Syed Arif Hasan (Pakistan), South East Asia - Maj Gen Charouck Arirachakran (Thailand), and West Asia - Sheikh Issa Bin Rashid Al-Khalifa (Bahrain). — APP