New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has suffered a major setback after failing to secure election as one of the four female Sportspersons of Merit (SOM). The result has raised questions over her chances of retaining the top position in the IOA elections scheduled for December 5.
Four candidates were elected from a group of six. Legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George secured the highest number of votes, while Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, former international archer Dola Banerjee and former Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal also made the cut.
Usha can still contest the presidential election if a National Sports Federation nominates her to the IOA General Assembly. However, she is not expected to receive one of the two available representatives’ positions from the Athletics Federation of India.
Under the IOA Constitution, a presidential candidate must either be a Sportsperson of Merit or a member of the General Assembly. Usha became the first woman to lead the IOA in 2022 after being elected unopposed through the SOM route.
Earlier, Olympic medallists Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh and Yogeshwar Dutt, along with former table tennis player Kamlesh Mehta, were elected unopposed as the four male Sportspersons of Merit after eight candidates withdrew.
The eight elected SOM members, comprising four men and four women, will join the IOA General Assembly. They will be eligible to vote and contest the December 5 Executive Council elections. Two of them, one man and one woman, will also secure places on the Executive Council.
The election process was also marked by complaints over alleged campaigning. Usha objected to a WhatsApp message circulated under Banerjee’s name that sought votes for the New Bharat Panel and listed four candidates with their ballot details.
Weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam also raised concerns over alleged organised efforts to influence voters in favour of a candidate holding the IOA presidency, claiming that association resources were being used for the purpose.
Usha’s defeat in the SOM election has therefore added uncertainty to the leadership contest ahead of the December 5 polls.
