PT Usha’s second term ambitions at a crossroads: What are her chances in the IOA presidential race?

PT Usha is the President of IOA from December 2022. (Image: Instagram) New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) presidential race took an unexpected turn on Monday, with current PT chief Usha facing her biggest electoral setback since taking over the leadership of the organization in December 2022.Usha, who became the first woman to head the IOA, finished fifth in the Women of Exceptional Merit (SOM) category election on November 9. With four positions available, she missed out on a seat on the newly elected group that will be part of the IOA General Assembly, dealing a significant blow to her prospects of winning another term.The result also changed the power dynamics within the country’s apex sports body ahead of executive council elections on December 5 that will determine who will lead India’s Olympic administration for the next four years.However, Usha’s electoral defeat alone will not resolve the question of her future. The IOA constitution, ratified on September 8, and the electoral bye-laws provide a framework that leaves some room for an alternative path. Whether that path is available to Usha and whether he intends to continue down it are the main questions now.What does Usha SOM’s defeat mean for her presidential ambitions?

File photo of the athlete turned administrator of PT Usha. (OR)

Usha was elected unopposed as the President of the IOA on 10 December 2022 after securing a place among sportspersons for exceptional merit. The SOM category has traditionally provided excellent athletes with a path to the IOA General Assembly and subsequently to participation in the elections to the Executive Council.But the last election did not go well for her.In the six-member race for the four women’s SOM positions, long jumper Anju Bobby George won the poll with 53 votes, followed by former Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal (50), former archer Dola Banerjee (45) and badminton player Saina Nehwal (43). Usha got 40 votes and finished behind Saina, while former basketball player Anitha Pauldurai got six.The four men’s posts have already been unopposed by Olympic medalists Gagan Narang, Yogeshwar Dutt and Vijender Singh along with former table tennis player Kamlesh Mehta.

Athlete and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Vice President Gagan Narang during the kit unveiling and send-off ceremony of Team India organized by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. (PTI)

The eight elected SOMs will form part of the General Assembly and will have the right to vote in the December 5 election. One male and one female representative from this category will also be elected to the Executive Board.For Usha, the immediate consequence is that she will no longer have the SOM route that helped her enter the IOA electoral structure in 2022.But does that automatically exclude her from the presidential race? Not necessarily.Can PT Usha still find her way to the General Assembly?The IOA Statutes allow for membership of the General Assembly through several categories, including representatives of National Sports Federations (NSFs), Athletes’ Commissions, IOC members and the eight SOMs.According to the election notice issued on November 9, each eligible NSF was asked to nominate two eligible representatives to the Electoral College – one male and one female.The announcement lists 30 eligible national sports federations. The representatives of each federation shall have one vote in the elections to the Executive Council.

IOA President PT Usha with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at the 2026 Asian Games. (PTI)

This potentially offers Usha an alternative route to the General Assembly, provided the federation nominates her as one of its authorized representatives and meets the prescribed eligibility conditions.However, there are important qualifications.The notification clearly states that the authorized representative must be a member of the relevant NSF, an Indian citizen, below 70 years of age and in good standing. The nomination must also be documented by the authorization of the federation and submitted within the specified deadline.Hence, Usha cannot simply secure nomination from any federation without fulfilling its membership requirements.The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is the obvious organization to watch in this context given Usha’s association with athletics. However, nothing has confirmed that he will be between her two representatives.More importantly, entering the General Assembly and meeting the specific eligibility requirements for the presidency are two related but distinct considerations.

PT Usha sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support after losing the IOA SOM elections.

The new constitution’s eligibility provisions for president and treasurer require a candidate to be an athlete of outstanding merit or to have previously served at least one full term as a member of the IOA executive board or as president, general secretary or treasurer of an affiliate.Usha’s term as IOA President began in December 2022. Whether her current Executive Board will be considered to have completed a full term at the relevant eligibility deadline is a question that will have to be considered by the Constitution and the Electoral Officer.The constitution also provides for a four-year term of office for office bearers, a three-year cap and a provision for reflection in circumstances set out in the tenure rules.So while an NSF nomination could potentially restore her seat in the General Assembly, it shouldn’t be seen as an automatic pass for a presidential run.There is another significant development.According to PT reports, Usha is currently not considering a nomination from the NSF to regain entry into the General Assembly. She is not even considering going to court to challenge the outcome of the SOM election. Instead, her immediate attention appears to be on International Olympic Committee (IOC) intervention.Usha Takes IOC Election Battle: What’s Her Next Move?

PT Usha has written to IOC chief Kirsty Coventry (R) demanding an independent investigation into the IOA SOM elections. (Instagram)

In a confidential three-page complaint addressed to IOC President Kirsty Coventry, Usha is demanding an independent review of the SOM election process.The complaint, accessed by TOI, raises concerns about alleged campaigning by existing members of the Executive Council, communications seeking confirmation of voter turnout and references to the Sports Ministry in reports regarding secret elections.Usha has also questioned the handling of four statements that she claims she submitted to Returning Officer Sanjay K. Srivastava during the election process.She claimed that the problem was not only about her defeat, but about the conduct and supervision of the elections themselves.Her complaint reportedly asks the IOC to investigate the alleged violations, determine whether any government or outside influence was exerted, and consider referring the matter to the appropriate ethics and compliance mechanisms.It also sought remedial measures to ensure future IOA elections.The letter comes against the backdrop of India’s ambitions to host the Olympics in 2036. Usha argued that the IOA’s independence, transparency and governance standards are important for the credibility of the Olympic movement.Sources in her camp indicated that the immediate hope is for IOC intervention along with efforts to ask the Prime Minister’s Office to intervene in the alleged irregularities.IOA Presidential Election Key Dates

PT Usha with Harsh Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat. Ahmedabad will host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and has expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics.

With the SOM election over, the IOA moved into the next phase of its Executive Board election process. Electoral Officer Sanjay K. Srivastava formally announced December 5 as the date for the Executive Council elections.The immediate task is to establish an electoral college that will elect the next president and other office bearers.As part of the notification, 30 eligible NSFs have been asked to submit the names of their two authorized representatives between November 10 and November 12 by 3:00 p.m.The announcement of the provisional electoral college is scheduled for November 12. Objections can be submitted until 18:00 on November 13th, followed by a review and resolution of objections on November 14th. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on November 15.The Electoral College will consist of:– Two authorized representatives from each of the 30 eligible national sports federations.– members of the IOC, each of whom has one vote.– Two representatives of the IOA Athletes Commission.– Eight athletes chosen for outstanding merit, including four men and four women.Thus, the eight SOMs will have a role other than simply filling positions in the General Assembly. They will also be part of the body that will elect the next leadership of the IOA.