DOHA 2 July 2013:A new era for Asian Athletics Association (AAA) has begun with the election of Dahlan Al-Hamad as a President of the most prominent and populated continental association of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). With this result ended the 13-year reign of Suresh Kalmadi in the helm of AAA. IAAF Vice President and Qatar Athletics Federation President Dahlan Al Hamad was the big winner in the AAA elections held on July 1, in Pune (home turf of Kalmadi) with 20-18 votes, on the eve of the Asian Athletics Championships, and earned the right to lead the AAA for the next two-year term (exceptionally for two years instead of four in order to have the AAA and the IAAF elections harmonised). In a short message right after his landslide victory Mr. Al Hamad cited: “Today a new era for the Asian Athletics commences; a new era in which we will use all our forces to boost the image of our beloved sport, to reform the structure of the AAA from its foundations. “I have a vision for Asian Athletics and therefore I have drawn a detailed plan, whose execution begins immediately and is based on realistic ideas and proposals. This will be the vehicle to pave the way for a bright future. “I am sending an open invitation to all the AAA member countries to stand on my side and fight with me. We are living in a vast continent where there are numerous financial sources to derive support, we just need to showcase that we owe the right product which is worthy investing in. “I am quite positive that the day the Asian Athletics will stand in a much higher spot, will not be delayed. “It is an auspicious time to move forward and we have to concentrate all our powers to fulfill our quest.” Source:Qatar Chronicle

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