Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu have secured their positions as members of the Indian Olympic Association Athletes Commission. Returning Officer Sanjay K Srivastava declared all ten candidates elected unopposed after withdrawals reduced the field. Also, the panel features five male and five female athletes who will serve a four-year term from 2026 to 2030.
- PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu won seats unopposed for a four-year term.
- Sudha Singh and Kidambi Srikanth withdrew their candidatures prior to the deadline.
- Harmanpreet Singh and Salima Tete joined the commission as hockey representatives.
- Elections for the chairperson and vice chairperson will take place on November 7.
Commission Structure and New Members
Meanwhile, the ten-member body includes prominent names from various disciplines across Indian sports. Harmanpreet Singh and Salima Tete represent the sport of hockey on the panel. Swapnil Kusale, Bhavani Devi, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Bombayla Devi, Sajan Prakash, and Manjeet Singh also secured their places. Earlier, Returning Officer Sanjay K Srivastava confirmed that polls were unnecessary because exactly ten candidates remained.
Furthermore, the commission follows strict guidelines regarding Olympic and medal categories. Six members qualified through their participation in the last three Olympic Games. Four other members met the criteria by winning medals in major international competitions. As a result, the diverse group represents a balanced mix of winter and summer sports talent.
Upcoming Elections and Leadership
Later, the newly elected members will vote to choose their leadership team on November 7 in virtual mode. Shiva Keshavan and Rajeshwari Kumari will act as ex-officio members with voting rights. Because of age rules, twenty-four-year-old Salima Tete cannot contest the chairperson role. However, she remains eligible to run for positions in the IOA General Body.
Candidates can file their nomination papers on November 4 and November 5. After that, the final list of contestants will be published on November 6. Winners of these upcoming votes will also participate in the IOA Executive Council elections on December 5.
Keep browsing Sporting Avenue to get more interesting news from the world of sports. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the notifications instantly.
