PT Usha's Second-Term Battle: From Unanimous Election to Internal Revolt at IOA

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha has kept her hopes of securing a second term alive after being nominated by the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) as its female representative to the IOA General Body.

The development comes days after Usha suffered a setback in the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections, finishing fifth with 40 votes and missing out on one of the four women's positions.

Former long jumper Anju Bobby George topped the women's category with 53 votes, followed by former hockey captain Rani Rampal (50), archer Dola Banerjee (45) and badminton star Saina Nehwal (43). In the men's category, Gagan Narang, Yogeshwar Dutt, Vijender Singh and Kamlesh Mehta were elected unopposed.

Usha's nomination has opened another route to the presidential race. However, her eligibility remains uncertain as IOA guidelines require nominated representatives to be members of their respective National Sports Federations (NSFs). The ice hockey federation has also nominated its secretary general Harjinder Singh as its male representative.

Electoral Officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava had asked all 30 eligible NSFs to nominate one male and one female representative by Thursday's 3 pm deadline.

Objections to the provisional electoral college will be submitted on Friday, followed by scrutiny on Saturday. The final electoral roll is scheduled for Sunday.

The 71-member electoral college will comprise 60 NSF nominees, eight elected SOM representatives, two Athletes' Commission representatives and India's International Olympic Committee member.

The IOA Executive Council elections are scheduled for December 5. Both NSF nominees and elected SOM representatives can contest.

Prominent nominees include Adille Sumariwalla, Rajeev Mehta, Rahul Bose, Kalyan Chaubey and Ajay Patel. Sumariwalla, Narang and Saina are also being discussed as potential contenders for the president's post.

Usha became the first woman to head the IOA in December 2022.