PT Usha To Be The New President of Indian Olympic Association

The ‘Udanpari’ PT Usha is going to be the new Indian Olympic Association President after emerging as the lone candidate for the top role.

There was a time when all the Sports ministers & heads used to be political leaders (non-players). But now the Indian administration is getting revolutionized from scratch.

Former track and field athlete PT Usha is going to lead the Indian Olympic Association as its first female president (IOA). The 58-year-old submitted her papers for nomination to the IOA and was chosen as the only applicant.

On Sunday, November 27, the nomination period for the IOA elections on December 10 came to an end. Usha will be the association’s first female president as she was the only applicant for the position of president. For different positions in the IOA, 24 candidates submitted nominations.

PT Usha was additionally chosen by the IOA Athletes Commission as one of the eight Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit. She now qualifies as an electoral college member.

Additionally, Usha will be the first Olympian and international medalist to lead the IOA in the organization’s 95-year history. She is also the first athlete to have represented the nation and lead the IOA since Maharaja Yadavindra Singh.

Elections will be held by the IOA to choose –

• a president,
• senior vice-president,
• two vice-presidents (one male and one female),
• two joint secretaries (one male and one female),
• a treasurer, and
• six other members

of the Executive Council, including two athletes of outstanding merit.

Born in Kuttali, Kozhikode, Kerala, PT Usha is a former track and field athlete. The sprinter dubbed the “Queen of Indian Track and Field” amassed an impressive career record of 18 gold and 13 silver medals from international competitions.

At the Asian Games, she took home 11 medals, four of which were gold. She won four gold medals at the Asian Games in Seoul in the 200-meter, 400-meter, 400-meter hurdles, and 4×400-meter relay events, along with a silver.

At the 1998 Asian Athletics Championships, Usha competed for India in the 400-meter relay alongside Rachita Mistry, EB Shyla, Valdivel Jayalakshmi, and others. Her team won the gold medal and established the 44.43-second national record.

PT Usha also serves on the board of advisers for the International Movement to Unite Nations of India (IIMUN).

Former President Ram Nath Kovind recommended her for election to the Rajya Sabha in 2022.