IOA Elections: PT Usha gets crucial Ice Hockey Association backing, keeps bid for second term as president alive

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha has kept her hopes of contesting the upcoming Executive Committee elections alive after being selected as a representative of the Ice Hockey Association of India for the body's Special General Meeting (SGM).

The development comes days after Usha suffered a setback in the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections, where she finished fifth in the women's category. The top four candidates, Anju Bobby George, Rani Rampal, Dola Banerjee and Saina Nehwal, secured their places.

According to sources, the Ice Hockey Association of India has nominated Usha as one of its representatives for the SGM, allowing her to remain part of the IOA electoral college. The Executive Committee elections are scheduled to take place on December 5.

Usha's nomination is significant as membership of the electoral college allows her to attend the SGM, participate in voting and contest for positions in the IOA Executive Committee, including the president's post.

How PT Usha can contest IOA elections despite SOM poll setback

Usha's route to the upcoming elections depended on securing a nomination from a National Sports Federation (NSF) after she failed to finish among the top four in the women's SOM elections.

Under the IOA's rules, each NSF can nominate two representatives, one male and one female, to the electoral college. Usha has reportedly secured one of the two representative positions available to the Ice Hockey Association of India.

The eligibility criteria for an NSF representative state that the nominee must be a member of the concerned federation, an Indian citizen below 70 years of age and a person of good standing with sound judgement and an independent mind. The representative must also have knowledge of and belief in Olympic principles.

A nominated representative can be disqualified under specific circumstances, including insolvency, conviction followed by imprisonment, doping-related issues or a ban imposed by an Ethics Committee.

PT Usha faces challenge in bid to retain IOA President post

Usha, a former Indian track and field star and Rajya Sabha member, is now eligible to remain in contention for the IOA Executive Committee elections. However, her fifth-place finish in the women's SOM elections could indicate that she faces a challenge in securing support from members of the Olympic body.

Her nomination as an Ice Hockey Association representative could also attract scrutiny, given her background in athletics rather than ice hockey. However, the nomination keeps her electoral prospects alive ahead of the December 5 polls.