Sportsperson of MeritIndian Olympic Association President P.T. Usha failed to get elected as a 'Sportsperson of Merit' (SOM) on Monday a process that was mired in controversy. Meanwhile, former badminton player Saina Nehwal has secured one of the four available spots for female SOMs.
Long jump legend Anju Bobby George, former archer Dola Banerjee, and former Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal have also been selected as SOMs. In total, there are 80 SOMs comprising 40 men and 40 women who form the electoral college responsible for electing the four female representatives.
Uncontested Election of Male SOMs
Earlier on Saturday, Olympic medalists Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh, and Yogeshwar Dutt, along with former table tennis player Kamlesh Mehta, were elected unopposed as the four male Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs).
Eight other candidates had withdrawn their nominations. The question now arises: will P.T. Usha be able to stand for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Executive Council elections, scheduled for December 5?
To do so, she would need to be nominated by a National Sports Federation (NSF) at the General Assembly a scenario that appears unlikely. Furthermore, it is also not expected that this track and field legend will be one of the two representatives from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Disputes and Complaints in the Election
Under the IOA constitution, a candidate for the post of president must be a member of the State Olympic Associations (SOA) or the General Assembly. In 2022, Usha was elected unopposed as the first female president of the IOA, having qualified through the SOA route.
The eight newly elected SOA representatives will become members of the IOA General Assembly, making them eligible to vote and stand as candidates in the December 5 elections. Two of these representatives—one man and one woman—will also become members of the IOA Executive Council.
A dispute arose during this SOA election when Usha filed a complaint with the Returning Officer, Sanjay Kumar Srivastava. She alleged that former archer Dola Banerjee had violated the Model Code of Conduct by circulating WhatsApp messages.
In her complaint, Usha stated that a WhatsApp message—sent from an account bearing Banerjee’s name—solicited support for the ‘New Bharat Panel.’
Allegations of Misuse of IOA Resources
Commonwealth Games gold medalist weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam also lodged a complaint with the Returning Officer, Sanjay Kumar Srivastava. He stated, "There is a concerted effort to influence members of the electoral college in favor of a candidate who also happens to be the president of the Indian Olympic Association.
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