Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has been nominated to the electoral college for the next IOA Executive Council elections, potentially keeping her in the running for the top position despite her defeat in the Sportsperson of Merit (SOM) selection process. Along with Harjinder Singh, Usha has been nominated as one of the two representatives of the Ice Hockey Federation of India. Days before, Olympic medalist Saina Nehwal and former athletes Anju Bobby George, Rani Rampal, and Dola Banerjee won the women's category, and she was unable to gain a spot among the IOA's Sportspersons of Merit (SOM).

After competing against PT Usha and fellow candidate Anitha Paul Durai for the four open places, the four contenders were elected to the women's SOM positions. With 53 valid votes, Anju Bobby George received the most, followed by Rani Rampal with 50, Dola Banerjee with 45, and Saina Nehwal with 43. Anitha Paul Durai garnered only six votes, compared to forty for Usha. In the women's SOM category, 80 votes were cast.

Having missed out on a place among the SOMs, Usha's prospects in the IOA presidential race appeared to have suffered a setback. However, her nomination to the electoral college could give her another opportunity to contest for the top position. The SOMs, along with all 60 members nominated by the National Sports Federations (NSFs), are eligible to contest for positions in the new IOA Executive Council.

The men's category had already seen four candidates elected unopposed after eight of the 12 contenders withdrew from the race. Olympic medallists Gagan Narang, Yogeshwar Dutt and Vijender Singh, along with former table tennis player Kamlesh Mehta, have secured their places as male SOM representatives. The SOM representatives will become members of the IOA General Assembly and will be eligible to vote and contest in the December 5 Executive Council elections.

One male and one female SOM representative will also secure places in the Executive Council, giving the elected members a direct role in the association's governing structure.

With ANI Inputs