Controversy Surrounds PT Ushas Nomination Ahead of IOA Elections
PT Usha faces challenges in her nomination for the IOA elections as questions arise about her eligibility and representation.
New Delhi, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : The upcoming elections for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on December 5 have taken a contentious turn. Current president PT Usha is facing official objections regarding her nomination as a representative of the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI).
The controversy centers on whether Usha meets the legal requirements to represent a National Sports Federation, particularly since she is reportedly not a member of the IHAI. According to the provisions, a nominee must be a member of the relevant sports federation to be eligible.
This issue arose after Usha failed to secure a position in the Sports Person of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections. She finished fifth in the women’s category with 40 votes, trailing behind Anju Bobby George (53), Rani Rampal (50), Dola Banerjee (45), and Saina Nehwal (43). Only the top four candidates qualify, which meant Usha missed out on a spot in the general body through the SOM route.
Following this setback, her name was proposed alongside Harjinder Singh as the female representative for the IHAI in the provisional electoral college. This nomination provided Usha with another potential pathway to the general body, keeping her electoral prospects alive. However, her membership status and the authority of the nominating federation are now under scrutiny.
The electoral officer has been tasked with verifying whether PT Usha is a registered member of the IHAI, and if so, in what capacity. Investigations will include her membership application, the date of approval, the federation’s official membership register, and the constitutional rules governing her inclusion. Questions have also been raised about the validity of the nomination forms submitted in support of her candidacy, with a request to not finalize her nomination until relevant records are reviewed. If Usha’s membership is not confirmed, there are demands for her removal from the final electoral college.
The administration of Indian ice hockey is also embroiled in its own disputes. A faction led by Kunjang Namgyal has raised separate objections to the nominations of Usha and Harjinder Singh, claiming that the leadership that proposed their names lacks valid authority.
This controversy has escalated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Sports administrator K.P. Rao has reached out to the international body, requesting intervention in the IOA election process and the appointment of an observer to oversee the elections.
With the elections approaching, the dispute over Usha’s nomination has become another flashpoint in a process already fraught with questions about eligibility, transparency, and the administration of Indian sports. Olympic medalist Abhinav Bindra has also raised concerns regarding the clarity of the SOM election rules.
