(Reuters) – World Sailing named long-term board member Li Quanhai as its new president, making him the first person from China to take up the role.
Li, who defeated incumbent Kim Andersen of Denmark by eight votes, will hold the office until 2024.
The 58-year-old has held various positions in the Chinese Yachting Association since 1995 and served as a Vice President of World Sailing for the past eight years.
“I warmly welcome Quanhai Li as President of World Sailing; it is a great advantage having already served for eight years on the Board,” World Sailing CEO David Graham said in a statement https://www.sailing.org/news/90518.php#.X5-PeYgzY2w.
Seven new Vice Presidents were also elected in a major shake-up of the sport’s governing body.
“The future of World Sailing is in very capable hands and I look forward to working with our new Board,” Graham added.
(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; editing by Richard Pullin)
