IOA Nominations Shrink to 23 Candidates for Eight Athlete Seats
Fourteen candidates exited the race after scrutiny of nomination papers, leaving 23 former athletes contesting the eight Outstanding Sportspersons seats, Bhasha reported. Election officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava originally published a list of 27 contenders on October 31 for the eight Outstanding Sportspersons seats. Twenty-three retired competitors, including IOA president PT Usha and five Olympic medalists, remain in the running.
Notable Exclusions from the Final Contender List
Hockey veteran Sardar Singh, former badminton player B. Sumeet Reddy, and former shot putter Om Prakash Karhana missed the valid men’s list. Women’s candidate Sunith Singh also dropped off the roster because her nomination lacked a designated seconder on the initial filing. Eighty eligible Sportspersons—split evenly between 40 men and 40 women—will cast online ballots on November 9 to select four male and four female representatives.
Olympic Medalists Competing for Executive Influence
The successful eight will gain voting power in the General Assembly ahead of the December 5 Executive Council elections, with two members securing direct seats on the governing board. Twelve men contest the four male slots, featuring Olympic medalists Gagan Narang, Yogeshwar Dutt, Vijender Singh, and 1980 gold medalist Surinder Singh Shokker. World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla and table tennis veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal also compete in the men’s bracket.
Usha squares off against 11 women for four dedicated positions alongside Olympic medalist Saina Nehwal and World Championship medalist Anju Bobby George. Candidates have until 2 p.m. on Saturday to withdraw their nominations before the election officer releases the definitive lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions About the IOA Elections
When do eligible voters cast their ballots for the Sportsperson positions?
Eighty voting members will cast their ballots online on November 9 to determine the four male and four female representatives.
Who proposes the candidacy of IOA president PT Usha?
Former table tennis player A. Radhika proposed Usha’s nomination, which was seconded by former 400-meter runner Lijo David Thottan.
When does the new executive council take office through elections?
The newly elected executive council members will be decided during elections scheduled for December 5.
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