P. T. Usha loses bid for Sportspersons of Merit; Saina Nehwal elected
P. T. Usha did not win a seat in the Sportspersons of Merit elections, while Saina Nehwal and Anju Bobby George were among those elected.
CHENNAI, Nov 10: P. T. Usha, president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was unsuccessful in her attempt to secure election as one of the four Sportspersons of Merit (SOM) on November 9, 2026. In contrast, former badminton player Saina Nehwal and long jump legend Anju Bobby George were elected among the SOMs.
The SOM elections included a total of six candidates. Along with Nehwal and Bobby George, former archer Dola Banerjee and former women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal were also elected. This election followed a previous instance where Usha had been elected unopposed as the IOA’s first woman president in 2022.
The election was marked by allegations of interference and controversy. Usha filed a complaint against Banerjee, claiming she violated the Model Code of Conduct by circulating a WhatsApp message that solicited votes for a specific panel of candidates. Usha’s complaint contended that this act was against the election rules and called for an investigation.
In the run-up to the election, Usha’s chances appeared uncertain, especially as she needed to be nominated by a National Sports Federation (NSF) to participate in the upcoming Executive Council polls scheduled for December 5. Reports indicate that she is unlikely to receive such a nomination from the Athletics Federation of India.
For the male SOM positions, Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh, Yogeshwar Dutt, and Kamlesh Mehta were elected unopposed after eight candidates withdrew their nominations. This led to concerns about the legitimacy and fairness of the electoral process.
Allegations have surfaced regarding undue influence from various entities, including national federations and possibly the sports ministry, raising questions about the integrity of the elections.
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