Legendary PT Usha elected as first woman president of Indian Olympic Association
Indian Olympic Association: The legendary athlete Pilavullakandi Thekkeraparambil Usha, also known as PT Usha, was chosen to lead the Indian Olympic Association as its first female president (IOA). The 58-year-old Ms. Usha, a multiple Asian Games gold medallist and fourth-place finisher in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 400m hurdles final, was declared elected unopposed for the top post in the polls. L Nageswara Rao, a retired SC judge appointed by the Supreme Court, oversaw the elections. Usha emerged as the lone candidate for the top post, as nobody was willing to fight against Usha, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in July.
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Other important appointment in the IOA:
- In addition to Usha, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) senior vice-president Ajay Patel was chosen without opposition.
- Olympic medalist shooter Gagan Narang and Rowing Federation of India president Rajlaxmi Singh Deo have been elected unopposed as vice presidents.
- Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) president Sahdev Yadav has been elected the treasurer.
- Former goalkeeper and All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey won the joint secretary election without opposition (male).
- Alaknanda Ashok of Badminton Association of India (BAI) was elected as joint secretary (female) after emerging winner in a three-way battle.
- Shalini Thakur Chawla and Suman Kaushik were also in the fray.
About the PT USHA: Usha, also known as the “Payyoli Express,” was the first international medalist and Olympian to lead the IOA in its 95-year history. She is also the first sportsperson to have represented the country and also become IOA chief since Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, who played a Test match in 1934. Singh, who presided over the IOA from 1938 to 1960, was its third president.