The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan has elected Salamat Ergeshov as its new secretary general, replacing Kanat Amankulov ©OCA

The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan (NOCRK) has elected Salamat Ergeshov as its new secretary general, replacing Kanat Amankulov, who has been given a post in the country's Government. 

Ergeshov has been working in the NOCRK since 2006 and has been a member of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) since 2011.

His candidacy was approved by the International Olympic Committee and the OCA.

Amankulov has been appointed the Director of the State Agency for Youth Affairs, Physical Culture and Sports of Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan will be hoping to ito win their first Olympic medal at Rio 2016 since Beijing 2008 having failed to get on the podium at London 2012 ©Getty Images
Kyrgyzstan will be hoping to ito win their first Olympic medal at Rio 2016 since Beijing 2008 having failed to get on the podium at London 2012 ©Getty Images

Kyrgyzstan, which achieved independence in 1991 following the break-up of the Soviet Union, first competed in an Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994.

They have won a total of three medals, including bronze for under 60 kilograms judoka Aidyn Smagulov at Sydney 2000.

At Beijing 2008, under 66kg silver and under 60kg bronze went the way of Greco-Roman wrestlers Kanatbek Begaliev and Ruslan Tiumenbaev respectively. 

They will be hoping to return to the medals podium at Rio 2016.