IOA elections: Narang, Vijender, Yogeshwar among four SOMs elected unopposed; six women in fray

File Image: Incumbent IOA president P.T. Usha is among six candidates contesting the four women’s Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) seats. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

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 Outstanding Merit (SOMs) ahead of the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) December 5 elections.

The four secured their positions after eight candidates withdrew their nominations before Saturday’s 2 PM deadline, leaving no need for the men’s SOM election scheduled for Monday.

However, six candidates, including incumbent IOA president P.T. Usha, Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, World Championships bronze medallist Anju Bobby George, former hockey captain Rani Rampal, former archer Dola Banerjee and basketball player Anitha Paul Durai, remain in contention for the four women’s SOM seats.

The election will be conducted virtually on November 9, Electoral Officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava confirmed.

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The eight elected SOMs, comprising four men and four women, will become members of the IOA General Assembly, making them eligible to vote and contest the December 5 Executive Council elections.

Two SOMs, one man and one woman, will also be elected to the IOA Executive Council.

Candidates who withdrew

Among the eight male candidates who withdrew were World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla, table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal, former shuttler B. Sai Praneeth, weightlifter Sathish Kumar Sivalingam, Olympic hockey gold medallist Surinder Singh Shokar and former shooters Ronjan Sodhi, Mansher Singh and Moraad Ali Khan.

In the women’s category, former sprinter Ashwini Nachappa, archer Chekrovolu Swuro, shuttler Trupti Murgunde, weightlifter Neelam Setti Laxmi and canoeist Ragina Kiro withdrew their nominations.

Former Clean Sports India national convener B.V.P. Rao alleged that some candidates withdrew under pressure from the Sports Ministry.

However, a ministry source rejected the allegations, maintaining that the government had neither interfered in nor played any role in the IOA electoral process.

Published on Nov 07, 2026

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