Usha cleared for IOA elections, all objections rejected

FILE PHOTO: P. T. Usha, who has been entered as the female representative from Ice Hockey Association of India, is eligible to contest the upcoming IOA elections on December 5. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

The way for incumbent P. T. Usha to re-contest for Indian Olympic Association (IOA) presidency has been cleared with her name included in the final electoral roll published late on Sunday evening.

Electoral/Returning Officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava rejected all objections to the various names nominated by the eligible national sports federations, confirming the draft electoral roll as the final one. The decision makes Usha, who has been entered as the female representative from Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI), eligible to contest the upcoming IOA elections on December 5.

A faction of the IHAI, former IOA president Narinder Batra and advocate Atul Kumar had separately filed objections challenging Usha’s eligibility and her credentials to represent IHAI. Objections had also been raised against IHAI secretary general Harjinder Singh and Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh of Ski and Snowboarding India and questions around the legitimacy of Hockey India secretary general Bholanath Singh, all of which have been rejected.

The notification published by Srivastava categorically states that only those named in the 71-member final list – including eight Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elected earlier, two representatives of the Athletes Committee and IOC member Nita Ambani – can contest and vote in the elections, and propose and second nominations.

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Srivastava had sought clarification from IOA on whether ordinary membership of one NSF barred a member from representing any other NSF, which the IOA denied, clearing Usha’s entry as an office-bearer of Kerala unit of IHAI since 2023. However, including her name doesn’t automatically guarantee Usha a shot at returning as the IOA president – she will have to not only file a formal application but also ensure a proposer and a seconder, which doesn’t seem impossible given the way permutations and combinations have been changing every day.

Now, it will be interesting to see the other names throwing their hat in the electoral ring. Besides Usha, eight members of the current Executive Committee (EC) are in the electoral list with vice-president Gagan Narang being spoken of as a front-runner. However, former Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla is also a strong possibility with senior vice-president and National Rifle Association of India representative Ajay Patel being a potential surprise candidate. November 24 is the last date for filing nominations.

Elections to the posts of president, senior vice-president and treasurer (one each), vice-presidents and joint secretaries (two each) and six EC members, including two from the SOM already elected will be held on December 5.