The President and CEO met Indian Olympic Association President P. T. Usha, and the Honourable Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Honourable Ms Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, and Ms Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary of Sports, on the visit to New Delhi this week.

‘’We have been pleased to meet a vibrant and active Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) making a valued contribution to the advancement of our strategic vision,’’ said the President.

‘’We want to underline to our gracious hosts how much we value them as an important Member of the Commonwealth Sport Movement and that we want to continue to strengthen our relationship.

‘’India’s economic and demographic size brings with it an influential role and responsibility within the Commonwealth Sport Movement, and we look forward to working closely together with such a major power in the development of sport in the country, region, and beyond.

‘’India has a bold vision for its major sporting event strategy, and we encourage them to share our ambition for them to once again host the Commonwealth Games in the not-too-distant future.’’)

The President and CEO praised IOA President P. T. Usha, for India’s continued successes at the Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games, Olympics, Paralympics, and other sports events.

Sadleir said, ‘’India has limitless potential to be an even stronger sporting force in the coming years. Under President Usha’s leadership, the country is rapidly accelerating with its medal performances. They are a force to be reckoned with at every edition of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.

‘’We have just witnessed their most successful Paralympics performance to date in Paris with 29 medals (7 gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze) – a huge progression from the one medal won at the London 2012 Games.

‘’There has clearly been a paradigm shift in Para sport in India in terms of both athlete and coach development and spectator interest, and they are reaping the benefits.’’

On the occasion of the visit, Jenkins and Sadleir also congratulate newly elected Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Randhir Singh on the unanimous vote that confirmed him as the first Indian to become president of the OCA.