History

Before the 1978 Asian Games, the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation circulated a notice to National Swimming Federations/Associations in all countries/regions in Asia with a Notice for a meeting for the formation of the Asian Continental Swimming Federation during the period of the Asian Games to be held in Bangkok. The President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation who was also the Head of the Bangladesh country contingent for the Asian Games in 1978 also decided that the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation would lead the Bangladesh swimming team as the Manager of the Bangladesh National Swimming team and will co-ordinate meetings for the formation of the Continental Swimming Federation in Asia. The first meeting held in YMCA Bangkok was presided by Dr. K.M.S. Aziz, Convener of the meeting. During this meeting it was unanimously decided that the continental Asian Swimming Federation be formed in this meeting and that the name of the Federation will be the Asian Amateur Swimming Federation (AASF). A committee was formed for writing an ad hoc constitution for AASF as follows:

From the floor a question was raised about the organization of the first Asian Swimming Championships. The Secretary General immediately announced that the first Asian Swimming Championships will be held in 1980 in Dhaka, Bangladesh and he invited all swimming Federations/Associations in Asia to join this pioneering event. The announcement was made that the first congress of the AASF will be held in Dhaka during the first Asian Swimming Championships in Dhaka. The meeting ended with festivities with the formation of the continental Asian Swimming Federation and the announcement of the date and venue for the first Asian Swimming Championships.According to the ad hoc constitution the President of AASF was to be decided by the Host of the Asian Swimming Championships. After return from the Asian Games, the Executive Committee (EC) meeting of Bangladesh Swimming Federation, chaired by Mr. M. Asafuddowla was held in the office of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation, in the National Stadium located in Dhaka. The President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation, Chairman of the EC meeting, suggested that the President of AASF can be nominated from any country, as per decision of the host of the first Asian Swimming Championship.

Accordingly, Bangladesh Swimming Federation approached Mr. Edilberto Bonus, President of the Philippines Amateur Swimming Association to be the President of AASF. Mr. Edilberto Bonus graciously accepted to be the first President of AASF. According to the ad hoc constitution the President of AASF was to be decided by the Host of the Asian Swimming Championships. After return from the Asian Games, the Executive Committee (EC) meeting of Bangladesh Swimming Federation, chaired by Mr. M. Asafuddowla was held in the office of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation, in the National Stadium located in Dhaka. The President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation, Chairman of the EC meeting, suggested that the President of AASF can be nominated from any country, as per decision of the host of the first Asian Swimming Championship. Accordingly, Bangladesh Swimming Federation approached Mr. Edilberto Bonus, President of the Philippines Amateur Swimming Association to be the President of AASF. Mr. Edilberto Bonus graciously accepted to be the first President of AASF.

Following the announcement made during the meeting in YMCA Bangkok, the first Asian Swimming Championships was held in Dhaka in the Swimming Pool of Bangladesh Naval Headquarters located in Dhaka. The AASF congress, presided by Mr. Edilberto Bonus was held in Hotel Purbani International, Dhaka where delegates from 22 different countries were present. During this first AASF Congress the Constitution of AASF was approved. The election of the Executive Committee was held according to this newly approved constitution of AASF. Mr. Edilberto Bonus was elected as the President of AASF, Dr. K.M.S. Aziz was elected as the Secretary General of AASF and Mr. Faisal Swar was elected as the Treasurer of AASF in addition to other office bearers and members of the AASF Executive Committee. During this AASF Congress it was decided that the next AASF Congress will be held during the Asian Games to be held in New Delhi.

Accordingly, the next AASF Congress was held in New Delhi where the President of the Korea Amateur Swimming Federation announced that the second Asian Swimming Championships will be held in Seoul, Korea. Mr. Ante Lambasa, President FINA graced the occasion by his presence in the AASF Congress and the reception held in New Delhi. The second Asian Swimming Championships was held in a befitting manner in Seoul Korea, where Mr. Myung Bak Lee, President of the Korea Amateur Swimming Federation was elected as the second President of AASF.

Following this all the Asian Swimming Championships and other Asian events of AASF were held regularly and is a part of the current history of AASF. The AASF Congress has been regularly held every two years during the Asian Swimming Championships and Asian Games since the foundation of AASF.

HE Sheikh Khalid Mohammed Al Badr Al Sabah of Kuwait is the current President of AASF and has been leading AASF in this capacity since August 2009. Mr. Taha Suleiman Al Kishri is the current Secretary General of AASF and the Secretariat of AASF is located in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.