58-year-old PT Usha is set to become the first woman president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as she emerged as the lone candidate for the top post for the 10 December Elections.
Pilavullakandi Thekkeraparambil Usha is a retired Indian track and field athelete. She has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979. She has won 4 Asian gold medals and 7 Silver medals. She is often called the “Queen of Indian track and field”. On 6th July 2022 she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, previously the Union Sports Minister, congratulated the athlete on her election. “Congratulations to legendary Golden Girl, Smt. P.T. Usha on being elected as the President of Indian Olympic Association. I also congratulate all the sporting heroes of our country on becoming the office bearers of the prestigious IOA! A nation is proud of them!,” tweeted Mr. Rijiju.
The IOA elections are being held under the supervision of SC-appointed retired apex court judge L Nageswara Rao under the new constitution prepared by him.
The IOA adopted the new constitution on November 10 after getting approval from the international committee.
The 77-strong IOA electoral college has nearly 25 per cent former athletes with a host of current and former sportspersons, including Olympic medallists P V Sindhu, Gagan Narang, Sakshi Malik, Yogeshwar Dutt and M M Somaya.
There are 66 members from 33 National Sports Federations which have nominated one male and one female each, eight SOMs (four male and four female), two from the Athletes Commission (one male and one female) and a member of International Olympic Committee in India, Nita Ambani.
It is to be noted that Ms.PT Usha and music maestro Ilaiyaraaja were among prominent personalties nominated to the Rajya Sabha recently.