Ushering in a brand new period in nation’s sports activities administration, the legendary PT Usha was on Saturday elected as the primary lady president of Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA).
The 58-year-old Usha, a a number of Asian Video games gold medallist and fourth place finisher within the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 400m hurdles closing, was declared elected unopposed for the highest put up within the polls.
The elections have been held underneath the supervision of Supreme Court docket-appointed retired SC choose L Nageswara Rao.
The election of Usha to the highest job marked an finish to the lengthy drawn disaster within the faction-ridden IOA, which was warned of a doable suspension by the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) if elections usually are not held this month.
The polls have been initially because of be held in December 2021.
Usha’s anointment to the highest put up was a forgone conclusion late final month after she emerged because the lone candidate for the highest put up.
No person was keen to battle in opposition to Usha, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Celebration in July.
Ajay Patel of Nationwide Rifle Affiliation of India (NRAI) has been elected unopposed as senior vice-president. Olympic medallist shooter Gagan Narang and Rowing Federation of India president Rajlaxmi Singh Deo have been elected unopposed as vice presidents.
Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) president Sahdev Yadav has been elected the treasurer. All India Soccer Federation (AIFF) president and former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey has been elected unopposed because the joint secretary (male).
Alaknanda Ashok of Badminton Affiliation of India (BAI) was elected as joint secretary (feminine) after rising winner in a three-way battle. Shalini Thakur Chawla and Suman Kaushik have been additionally within the fray.
Usha, fondly generally known as the ‘Payyoli Categorical’, is being seen as a candidate of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Celebration, which had nominated her as a Rajya Sabha member in July.
She additionally grew to become the primary Olympian and first worldwide medallist to move the IOA in its 95-year-old historical past, including one other feather in her cap after dominating Indian and Asian athletics for twenty years earlier than retiring in 2000 with a bagful of worldwide medals.
Usha is the primary sportsperson to have represented the nation and in addition turn into IOA chief since Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, who performed a Check match in 1934. Singh was the third IOA president who held workplace from 1938 to 1960.
Olympic medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and archer Dola Banerjee are within the govt council as female and male representatives of the eight Sportspersons of Excellent Benefit (SOM).
Bhupender Singh Bajwa, Amitabh Sharma, Harpal Singh and Rohit Rajpal have additionally been elected on the manager council, which is considerably totally different from the sooner ones.
At the very least 5 of the 14 govt council members (together with IOC member in India, Nita Ambani), are former sports activities individuals, which is unprecedented within the IOA historical past.
Legendary boxer MC Mary Kom and desk tennis nice Achanta Sharath Kamal are additionally a part of the excutive council by advantage of being president and vp of the Athletes Fee.