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Rising China, rising Asia

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A leading Asian sports official says the rise of China has played a major role in the rise of Asia in world sport.

Raja Randhir Singh, Secretary General of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and a Member of International Olympic Committee (IOC), has vast experience of Asian and world sport, having represented India at shooting in six Olympic Games from 1964 to 1984 and four Asian Games, in 1978, 1982, 1986 and 1994, winning the gold medal in Bangkok 1978.

Raja Randhir Singh, Secretary General of the OCA and a Member of IOC.

"A lot is happening in Asia, and the Asian Games has seen tremendous change," he said at a joint press conference between Asian Games organisers Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) and the OCA on Wednesday (November 10).

China had been at the vanguard of this change, he added, with the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, the Asian Winter Games in 1996 and 2007, the Olympic Games in 2008 and now the Guangzhou Asian Games.

"Asia as a continent is coming up in the world of sport and China has been a major player in this. The development and the level of sport has been phenomenal and is something the rest of us in Asia should be proud of."

Raja Randhir said it was impossible to compare the Commonwealth Games that took place in Delhi last month with the Asian Games, as they were totally different events with different sports programmes.

"Still we managed to hold a good Games, and eventually it turned out to be a very good Games in India because we won 101 medals. That was great for our country."

"People have faith in Asia that Asia can deliver, and people are aware that Asia is coming up in world sport."