Election of the IOA Athletes’ Commission: 9 sports, 10 mandates and uneven representation

PV Sindhu is in the running for one of the ten elected positions on the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Athletes’ Commission NEW DELHI: With 12 athletes from nine sports vying for 10 elected positions in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Athletes’ Commission, the application of a key provision of the election rules has emerged as an important consideration – how to ensure maximum representation of various sports in the commission.Rule 8.6 of the 2026 IOA Athletes’ Commission Rules states that “where possible”, the composition of the commission should aim for “maximum representation of all sports affiliated to the IOA”. He adds that the guiding principle is that “efforts should be made to ensure that there is no more than one athlete in any particular sport”.The provision assumes significance in the ongoing election, with the draft nomination list showing candidates from nine sports vying for 10 positions – five men and five women.The 12 nominees are Manjeet Singh (kayaking and canoeing), Swapnil Suresh Kusale (shooting), Harmanpreet Singh (hockey), Sajan Prakash (swimming), Kidambi Srikanth (badminton) and Tajinderpal Singh Toor (athletics) in the men’s category.The women nominees are PV Sindhu (Badminton), Salima Tete (Hockey), Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting), L Bombayla Devi (Archery), Sudha Singh (Athletics) and Bhavani Devi (Fencing).Athletics, badminton and hockey have their candidates in both male and female categories. The remaining six sports have one nominee each.Opportunity to maximize diversityThe current nomination pattern allows for all nine sports to be represented on the 10-member committee, with each sport having two representatives.Such composition would be in accordance with the main principle under Rule 8.6 provided the mandatory eligibility and category requirements are met and the result is in accordance with the prescribed election process.However, the provision does not set a separate quota for each sport or specify which sport should have two representatives. Nor does it expressly authorize the Returning Officer to overwrite the election result in order to achieve a preferred composition.Instead, the wording emphasizes what is possible and calls for trying to avoid multiple representatives from the same sport.Mandatory requirements remain centralThe rules also prescribe specific requirements for the composition of the Commission. According to Rule 8.1, the 10 elected members must consist of five male and five female athletes.Rule 8.2 states that the six elected members must have participated in at least one of the last three years of the Olympic Games. Rule 8.3 specifies that the six must include three male and three female athletes.The remaining four members under Rule 8.5 must represent two sportsmen and two women who have won at least one medal in any of the last three Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships/Cup or National Games.Rule 8.4 further states that, where possible, the composition of an Olympic category should include at least one athlete from an individual sport and at least one from a team sport.The final composition must apply these requirements together with the main principle of maximum sports representation.