Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha and five prominent Olympic medallists are among 27 former athletes in the fray for election to the eight Sportspersons of Merit positions. The successful candidates will secure membership in the General Assembly of the national Olympic body ahead of the upcoming administrative polls.
Eighty Sportspersons of Merit comprising equal numbers of men and women will elect four male and four female representatives from a pool of 23 candidates in a virtual poll scheduled for November 9. Electoral Officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava will issue specific voting instructions ahead of the ballot, while nomination scrutiny is slated for November 3, followed by the final list publication on November 7.
Key Highlights of the Election
- Contesting Figures: IOA chief PT Usha joins a high-profile lineup alongside numerous legendary Indian athletes.
- Olympic Representation: Multiple Olympic medallists across shooting, wrestling, boxing, and hockey feature in the candidate pool.
- Voting Process: A voter base of 80 qualified former athletes will cast virtual ballots on November 9.
- Executive Council Pathway: Elected members will enter the General Assembly, with two eventually joining the IOA Executive Council.
Star Contenders and Upcoming Schedule
The men’s category features elite names including Olympic shooting medallist Gagan Narang, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, boxer Vijender Singh, and 1980 hockey gold winner Surinder Singh Shokar among 15 candidates. World Athletics vice president Adille Sumariwalla, hockey great Sardar Singh, and table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal are also competing. On the women’s side, PT Usha is joined by Olympic bronze medallist shuttler Saina Nehwal and World Championships bronze winner Anju Bobby George among 12 contenders.
Securing these positions carries significant weight as several contenders for executive council leadership posts are involved in the November 9 vote. Two successful Sportspersons of Merit will eventually transition into the IOA Executive Council, shaping the governance of Indian sports moving forward.
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