NEW DELHI: Ushering in a new era in the country’s sports administration, the legendary PT Ucha was elected on Saturday as the first female president of Indian Olympic Association (AIO).
Usha, 58, a multiple Asian Games gold medalist and fourth in the 400m hurdles final at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, was declared unopposed for the top job in the polls.
The elections were held under the supervision of retired Supreme Court appointed SC Justice L Nageswara Rao.
Usha’s election to the top job marked the end of a long crisis in the faction-dominated IOA, which has been warned of possible suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if the elections fail. are not taking place this month.
Elections were originally scheduled to be held in December 2021.
Usha’s anointing to the top job was a foregone conclusion late last month after she became the only candidate for the top job.
Nobody was ready to fight against Usha, who was appointed to the Rajya Sabha by the ruling Bharatiya Janata party in July.
Usha, affectionately known as the “Payyoli Express”, is seen as a candidate for the ruling Bharatiya Janata party, which named her a member of Rajya Sabha in July.
She also became the first Olympian and first international medalist to lead the IOA in its 95-year history, adding another feather to her cap after dominating India and Asia. Athletics for two decades before retiring in 2000 with a bag full of international medals.
Usha is the first sportsman to represent the country and also became the head of the IOA since Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, who played a test match in 1934. Singh was the third President of the IOA who served from 1938 to 1960.
Usha, 58, a multiple Asian Games gold medalist and fourth in the 400m hurdles final at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, was declared unopposed for the top job in the polls.
The elections were held under the supervision of retired Supreme Court appointed SC Justice L Nageswara Rao.
Usha’s election to the top job marked the end of a long crisis in the faction-dominated IOA, which has been warned of possible suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if the elections fail. are not taking place this month.
Elections were originally scheduled to be held in December 2021.
Usha’s anointing to the top job was a foregone conclusion late last month after she became the only candidate for the top job.
Nobody was ready to fight against Usha, who was appointed to the Rajya Sabha by the ruling Bharatiya Janata party in July.
Usha, affectionately known as the “Payyoli Express”, is seen as a candidate for the ruling Bharatiya Janata party, which named her a member of Rajya Sabha in July.
She also became the first Olympian and first international medalist to lead the IOA in its 95-year history, adding another feather to her cap after dominating India and Asia. Athletics for two decades before retiring in 2000 with a bag full of international medals.
Usha is the first sportsman to represent the country and also became the head of the IOA since Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, who played a test match in 1934. Singh was the third President of the IOA who served from 1938 to 1960.
