Usha's Second Term Ambitions Hang in Balance as IOA Presidential Race Takes a Twist

PT Usha, the first female president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), faced her biggest electoral setback since taking office in December 2022. On November 9, she finished fifth in the election for the women's Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) category, missing out on a place in the newly elected General Assembly group. This has raised questions about her prospects of securing another term as IOA president. The IOA Constitution provides a framework that leaves some room for an alternative route, but whether Usha intends to pursue it and if she is eligible remain unclear.

Usha's electoral defeat does not necessarily rule her out of the presidential race. The IOA Constitution allows membership in the General Assembly through multiple categories, including representatives of National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Athletes Commission, IOC members, and the eight SOMs. Each eligible NSF has been asked to nominate two authorised representatives to the Electoral College - one male and one female. This potentially offers Usha an alternative route into the General Assembly, provided a federation nominates her as one of its authorised representatives and she meets the prescribed eligibility conditions.

However, there are important qualifications. The nominated representative must be a member of the concerned NSF, an Indian citizen, below 70 years of age, and in good standing. The nomination must also be supported by the federation's authorisation and submitted within the stipulated deadline. Therefore, Usha cannot simply secure a nomination from any federation without meeting its membership requirements.

Entering the General Assembly is only one consideration; satisfying the specific eligibility requirements for the post of president is another. The new Constitution's eligibility provision for the President and Treasurer requires a candidate to be a Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit or to have previously served at least one full term as a member of the IOA Executive Council, or as president, secretary general, or treasurer of an affiliated unit. Usha's tenure as IOA president began in December 2022. Whether her current Executive Council service will be treated as a completed full term at the relevant eligibility cut-off is a question that will need to be assessed under the Constitution and by the Electoral Officer.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is an obvious organization to watch in this context, given Usha's association with athletics. However, there is no confirmed indication that she will be among its two representatives. The outcome of the December 5 Executive Council elections will determine who leads the Indian Olympic administration for the next four years, and Usha's future role within the IOA remains uncertain.